3 Invaluable Benefits of Developmental Monitoring and Screening

Why isn’t my child walking yet? Did they start talking early for their age? Should I be concerned they’re not as social as other kids?

These are just some of the questions parents of youngsters (veterans and rookies alike) have about their child’s developmental milestones. 

Every parent feels anxiety at some point over whether their child is developing fast enough, especially when it’s now easier than ever to compare their child to others. And that’s where our experts come in. 

Drs. Tina Floy and Trinidad Rojas at Wellness Pediatrics in Fairfax, Virginia, have years of experience dealing with developmental delays in children of all ages. We know how to help you and your child identify and address them as early as possible. 

Here’s a closer look at how the process works. 

What’s involved in developmental monitoring and screening?

Until they reach adulthood, your child develops rapidly, especially as they move through the phases of childhood. Sometimes it seems as if there’s a new skill or trouble spot to work through every week.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggests that every child should be able to hit certain milestones by certain ages, and while every child (even children in the same family) develop at different rates, they need to keep up a steady pace of development. 

But how can you be sure if your child’s actually behind (or maybe even slightly ahead)? 

The CDC also estimates that as many as 17% of children have at least one developmental disorder, so that’s why developmental monitoring and screening are so important. 

Some of the areas most affected by developmental disorders include:

• Learning
• Language
• Biological function
• Mobility
• Social skills 
• Senses and perception
• Emotional or physical independence

Because of our advanced monitoring and screening techniques, we can identify and manage a wide range of developmental disorders, including ADHD/ADD, autism, fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, learning disorders, and language disorders.

Having a developmental issue doesn’t mean your child can’t live a happy, normal life, but it may mean they’ll have a different set of challenges. Working with our team gives you and your child the support you both need.

Benefits of monitoring and screening

Here are a few other reasons you should consider following the recommended developmental monitoring and screening schedule. 

You get to know your child better

When you participate in regular developmental monitoring and screening, you get to know your child in a more detailed way because we help you pinpoint their strengths and weaknesses. 

Then, we help you reinforce their strengths and give tips on some fun and easy activities to practice the areas where they need more help. 

We know your child’s developmental history well, which means we tailor our recommendations to their exact needs — which is much better than endlessly scrolling through social media looking for exercises that may not be right for your child.

You can also follow the CDC’s Milestones in Actions plan, which provides detailed, illustrated activities for every stage. 

You can get them the help they need at school 

You’ve been working on your child’s developmental gaps and strengths at home, but what happens when they head off to school? 

It’s estimated that only 20-30% of children with a developmental delay have been screened and appropriately identified before school begins. 

If you know exactly how to verbalize what your child needs help with, you and our team can communicate with your child’s educators to make sure they’re getting all the support they need at school. 

You can address problems proactively

With so many youngsters having developmental delays and so few being properly screened, many experience problems well into adulthood. But if you catch an issue with your child’s development early, we team up with you to make sure your child is prepared for the long haul. 

Is it too late to bring my child in for a screening?

If it’s been a while since your child has had a checkup, don’t panic. You can bring them in and get them caught up easily. We recommend you bring your child in for an assessment as soon as you, an educator, a caregiver, or a loved one notice an issue. 

If you’re concerned about your child's growth and development, don’t hesitate to call us at 571-350-0953 or use our online booking tool to get the support you and your child need today.