Start the school year on the right foot with CORE Health Partners developmental screening

With the emergence of the novel coronavirus and subsequent safety restrictions, so much of society abruptly ground to a halt. Businesses were forced to close their doors or operate on a work-from-home basis, and children were forced to complete schooling online.

Virtual classrooms allowed children to continue to learn, but studies have shown that they have suffered dearly because of these restrictions.

Over the past year, kids have lost more than educational gains. Many proactive and everyday activities, like health check-ups and social playdates, were put on the backburner.

As restrictions are lifted and we return to normal, now is the time to consider scheduling your children for developmental screening so they can start the school year on the right foot.

What is Childhood Developmental Screening?

According to the CDC, child developmental monitoring and development screening can help families diagnose and address developmental issues early on. Developmental monitoring or screening is not always about looking for something wrong. It can also be a way to celebrate your child’s development and talk about your progress! By meeting with your pediatrician or a healthcare provider, you can also plan for what will happen next.

Pediatric screenings usually involve assessing the child’s behaviors, such as how they play, learn, speak, behave, and move based on parents, early childhood providers, and other caregiver observations. These elements of a child’s behavior are measured against standardized milestones.

Developmental monitoring should be conducted by a caregiver regularly, and development screening tests are recommended at 9, 18, and 30 months for behavioral screening and 18 and 24 months to screen for autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

If your child has missed a milestone (meaning their development is delayed in a certain area) or you are not sure, you can easily schedule a development screening with Core Health Partners’ professional medical staff. Our team of highly qualified physical and occupational therapy practitioners conduct screenings and provide therapy through our partner locations, located throughout Collier County.

The Importance of Early Pediatric Screening

Pediatric development is tough to identify and measure. In the US alone, about 1 in 6 children (between the ages of 3 and 17) have at least one developmental or behavioral disability. This would include autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), or a learning disorder. Unfortunately, many children have language delays, which could affect how they do in school.

Without early screening, you may not find out that your child has a developmental issue until they fall behind their peers. This can be detrimental to their learning, overall well-being and health.

Most importantly, early pediatric screening will help you look for developmental milestones, identify concerns early, and to evaluate if your child needs help so they can be happier as they learn and grow.

What Will Pediatric Screening Identify

Developmental screening takes a closer look at how your child’s social, physical, and psychological development progresses. This usually involves a brief test that your child must complete and a questionnaire that the caregiver or guardian completes. These tools can then help the health professional to identify potential growth delays, barriers, or differences.

Typically, these screening tests will look at the child’s:

• Language/speech skills
• Movement
• Behavior
• Emotions
• Thinking

Screening is usually completed after monitoring the child. Still, it can also occur at key milestones (such as the recommended AAP behavioral screening ages) or if you have noticed that your child is not developing in ways that are typical to their peers.

You may be wondering what normal developmental milestones look like. These milestones are simple things, like saying their first words, taking a first step, or waving “goodbye” to a parental figure. If you think that the child should be doing something by their age, and you have tried to teach them to do it, these could be signs of missed developmental milestones.

You can view and print out developmental fact sheets and checklists so that you can get a sense of how your child is progressing or if a check-up is needed.

Affordable Pediatric Screening in Your Area

Pediatric screening is not an invasive procedure, and it only involves a visit from a health practitioner. That is why developmental screening can quickly be done in community, school, or early childhood education settings.

A missed developmental milestone does not always mean that your child is going through a developmental disorder. However, it could mean that there is a chance for this to occur.

If your child has a developmental disability, catching it early could alleviate learning barriers, and you could be able to implement adaptive behavior or physical therapy so that they continue to progress alongside their peers.

If your child or a child under your care has not had their developmental check-up and is exhibiting unusual developmental-related behavior, then know that you can easily get a developmental check-up through CORE Health Partners and services are covered by most insurances, Medicare, and Medicaid.

CORE Health Partners is Here For Your Child’s Health

The CORE Health Partners program was designed to bring the clinic to the community, which means that our local practitioners are ready to meet you where you are so that getting this vital check-up is not disruptive. 

Located in the Naples, Florida with partner locations in surrounding areas, our practitioners come to you and where your child needs it, so your child does not miss these developmental check-ins. Through partnerships with healthcare clinics and early education centers, CORE Health Partners can provide essential education and treatment easier.

If you or someone you need needs help with a second opinion or finding a trusted doctor that can come to them, consider CORE Health Partners. Print this medical referral form, have your doctor sign it and return to Core Health Partners.