Developmental Screening

About 1 in 6 kids ages 3-17 in the United States have at least one developmental delay or behavioral disability. Detecting developmental problems in children and seeking treatment when necessary helps your child thrive and keep up with their peers. At One World Pediatrics in Longwood, Florida, the team offers developmental screenings. Schedule an appointment by phone or use the online booking tool to learn more about developmental screening.

What is developmental screening?

Developmental screening involves a physical examination and a series of questions or tests that detect delays in reaching developmental milestones in children. 

The One World Pediatrics team can complete developmental screening during your child’s wellness exam to determine if they require therapy or other treatments to help them catch up with their peers.

What does developmental screening detect?

Developmental screening helps detect the following developmental delays or behavioral disabilities:

• Attention deficit disorder (ADD)
• Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
• Autism
• Physical, emotional, social, or cognitive delays
• Other developmental disabilities
• Language delays
• Fine or gross motor impairments
• Hearing impairments

If your provider detects a problem with your child’s development, he and his team may recommend additional developmental evaluations to establish a personalized treatment plan to address the problem.

When should my child undergo developmental screening?

The expert team at One World Pediatrics can screen your child for developmental issues any time you have a concern or during their well-child checkups. Developmental screening often starts from birth, then at 2, 4, 6, 9, 12, 18, 24, and 30 months. After that, it occurs yearly.

What should I expect during the appointment?

During a well-child visit or developmental screening appointment, your provider checks your child’s weight, height, head circumference in babies, and growth. They complete a comprehensive physical exam and may ask questions about your child’s developmental milestones.

Your pediatrician may have your child complete screening tests to evaluate their speech or determine if they can accomplish milestones like sitting up, crawling, walking, and fine motor skills.

Will my child require treatment?

Your doctor lets you know if your child is on track to meet developmental milestones or if they show signs of delays or disability.  If so, they might recommend physical therapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy, medications, diet or exercise changes, other lifestyle changes, or behavioral therapy, depending on the type and severity of your child’s condition.

Sometimes simply monitoring future development is all that’s necessary to see if developmental delays resolve on their own. Your provider might recommend physical or cognitive exercises to work on with your child at home to enhance their development. 

Be proactive about your child’s health, growth, and development to determine if they require early interventions to help them catch up with their peers. Schedule a wellness visit or developmental screening with Onew World Pediatrics by phone or online today.