Start the New Year with a Developmental Assessment for Your Child

Kids are like snowflakes: No two are the same — not even twins. It’s amazing to watch the different rates at which children hit milestones and pick up new skills. 

But there’s a point where a significant delay in your child’s development becomes a cause for concern. 

If you’ve noticed changes in your child’s behavior and haven’t been able to address them, the start of a new year is the perfect time to bring them into our office. 

At Wellness Pediatrics in Fairfax, Virginia, Drs. Tina Floy and Trinidad Rojas know how frustrating and upsetting it can be when your child seems to have challenges their peers and siblings don’t. 

That’s why we prioritize developmental assessments — to give you the answers and support you need to help your child thrive. 

Here’s what to expect. 

Understanding developmental assessments 

You may have noticed that every well visit for your child begins with a series of questions aimed at their developmental stage. We might ask if they’re babbling, talking, walking, crawling, pulling themselves up, responding to their name, and the list goes on. 

We document every detail and observe your child during the appointment to see if they show signs of a delay.

This is called developmental monitoring and is less formal than developmental assessments (also called developmental screenings). 

Developmental screenings are more in-depth and effective in identifying delays in children not identified during routine monitoring. 

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends every child have a developmental screening at 9, 18, and 30 months of age, even if there are no concerns. The AAP also encourages parents to have their 18- and 24-month-olds screened for autism. 

Signs your child could benefit from a developmental assessment

As a parent and caregiver, you’re almost always the first to notice a change or delay in your child’s development. The next most likely is your child’s teachers and day care workers. 

And you’re much more likely to notice these changes if you know the basic developmental milestones. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Learn the Signs. Act Early campaign compiles a comprehensive list of milestones your child should reach from 2 months to 5 years. 

If your child struggles or can’t check off every milestone, it may be time to consider a more in-depth development assessment. 

But there’s also something to say for a parent’s intuition. You may not need an official list to know that something's off with your child, and that’s reason enough to bring them in for evaluation. 

We’d so much rather you be overly cautious than miss a potentially serious delay because you hesitated to schedule an appointment.

The CDC estimates that as many as 17% of children have at least one developmental disorder, and early detection is often the only way to catch changes and delays at a point where intervention can have a significant impact. 

Developmental assessments in our office

Your child’s developmental assessment looks much like their regular well visits, but we have a different focus this time. Depending on your concerns, we ask targeted questions about their language, motor skills, learning, biological function, mobility, social skills, senses and perception, and emotional or physical independence. 

If our findings indicate your child has a developmental delay, we create a customized action plan to help you and your child. Many therapies and treatments are available to children with delays, and their plans often include other specialists.

Based on their needs, your child may benefit from a hearing or speech therapist, physical therapy, occupational therapy, social skills therapy, or cognitive behavioral therapy. Some families benefit from whole-family counseling.

We also provide you with information and strategies to try at home and share with your child’s day care workers and teachers. 

No matter what challenges your child is facing, our team can help both of you overcome them. If you’re interested in having your child evaluated for developmental delays, don’t hesitate to call us at 571-350-0953 or use our online booking tool to request an appointment today.