Developmental Screening Specialist

What is a developmental screening?

A developmental screening is a health care exam that assesses your child’s growth and development. Children go through many changes as their bodies grow and develop in the years leading up to adulthood. Health care providers monitor these changes to make sure your child is growing and developing as expected and meeting developmental milestones.

Finding delays in growth or development early improves your child’s chances of catching up with their peers. A developmental screening also helps your provider find common developmental issues that benefit from early intervention, such as:

• Fine and gross motor delays
• Speech delays
• Autism spectrum disorder
• Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
  
  

The providers at Pediatric Practitioners of Oklahoma specialize in the health and well-being of children and perform developmental screenings when you bring your child in for their wellness check, as well as a sick visit.

When should my child have a developmental screening?

Pediatric Practitioners of Oklahoma performs developmental screenings during your child’s wellness visits. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends children undergo developmental screening at nine, 18, and 30 months of age.

The CDC also recommends children undergo developmental screening for autism spectrum disorder at 18 and 24 months of age. 

In addition to the recommended ages for developmental screening, the specialists at Pediatric Practitioners of Oklahoma recommend you schedule an appointment whenever you have concerns about your child’s growth or development. 

What happens during a developmental screening?

The specifics of your child’s developmental screening at Pediatric Practitioners of Oklahoma may depend on their age, medical history, and developmental history. 

However, to ensure the accuracy of your child’s health screening, their provider uses a developmental questionnaire to assess behavior, fine and gross motor skills, language, and emotions. 

Their provider uses the information you give, along with information they gather during their physical exam, to determine if your child is meeting their growth and developmental milestones.

When they identify delays in growth or development, your child’s provider makes referrals to early intervention services or other specialists to make sure your child gets the extra help and support they need to manage their delay. 

A developmental screening helps determine if your child needs extra help. To schedule your child’s developmental screening or wellness exam, call Pediatric Practitioners of Oklahoma, today.