What Can Developmental Screening in Sherman Help Identify?
Developmental screening helps identify children who may be at risk for delays involving speech, language, movement, learning, social interaction, emotional development, or age-appropriate behavior. Standardized screening tools help pediatricians determine whether additional assessment or developmental support may be needed.
At DFWPMA Sherman, developmental screening may help identify concerns involving:
- Speech and Language Delays: Difficulty developing age-appropriate vocabulary, understanding spoken language, forming sentences, or communicating needs.
- Gross Motor Development: Delays in physical milestones involving sitting, crawling, standing, walking, running, balance, or coordination.
- Fine Motor Development: Difficulty developing age-appropriate hand and finger movements, grasping objects, manipulating toys, drawing, or using everyday tools.
- Cognitive Development: Concerns involving age-appropriate thinking, problem-solving, learning, memory, and understanding of the surrounding environment.
- Social Development: Differences in social interaction, reciprocal play, communication with others, or age-appropriate social engagement.
- Emotional and Behavioral Development: Concerns involving emotional regulation, behavior, attention, and age-appropriate responses to everyday situations.
- Autism-Related Developmental Concerns: Early differences in social communication, interaction, or restricted and repetitive behaviors that may warrant autism-specific screening and further evaluation.
- Delayed Developmental Milestones: Not reaching expected developmental skills within typical age ranges or losing previously acquired abilities.
Children develop at different rates, and an isolated delay in reaching a milestone does not automatically indicate a developmental disorder. Screening evaluates developmental patterns and helps determine whether further assessment is necessary.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends ongoing developmental surveillance during pediatric visits, combined with standardized screening at recommended ages and whenever developmental concerns arise.
Parents should discuss concerns about delayed speech, movement, social interaction, behavior, or loss of previously acquired skills with their child’s pediatrician rather than waiting for the next scheduled screening appointment.
Source: American Academy of Pediatrics — Assessing Developmental Delays in Children
Schedule an appointment to discuss your child’s development and screening options at DFWPMA Sherman.
What Developmental Screening Services Are Available at DFWPMA Sherman?
At DFWPMA Sherman, pediatric developmental care includes monitoring childhood milestones, reviewing developmental concerns, and determining when standardized screening or additional evaluation may be appropriate. Dr. Barbara Graham provides pediatric care for children from birth through age 18, with developmental screening particularly important during infancy and early childhood.
Developmental screening recommendations depend on the child’s age, developmental history, screening results, and concerns identified by parents or healthcare professionals.
Developmental screening and related pediatric care may include:
- Standardized Developmental Screening: Use of age-appropriate screening questionnaires or validated tools to identify possible developmental concerns and determine whether further evaluation is indicated.
- Developmental Milestone Monitoring: Reviewing age-appropriate progress in communication, movement, learning, social interaction, and behavior during pediatric visits.
- Speech and Language Development Review: Assessment of concerns involving communication milestones, language comprehension, speech development, and expressive language.
- Motor Development Review: Evaluation of concerns involving gross motor and fine motor milestones, physical coordination, and age-appropriate movement skills.
- Social-Emotional and Behavioral Screening: Age-appropriate review of social interaction, emotional development, behavior, and attention when developmental concerns are present.
- Autism-Specific Screening: Screening for autism-related developmental concerns at recommended ages, with additional evaluation or referral when screening results indicate increased risk.
- Well-Child Developmental Monitoring: Incorporating developmental surveillance and recommended screening into routine pediatric checkups alongside growth monitoring and preventive healthcare.
- Parent Education and Developmental Guidance: Helping families understand developmental expectations, screening results, and concerns that should prompt further pediatric assessment.
- Follow-Up and Specialist Referrals: Recommending additional developmental evaluation, early intervention services, speech-language assessment, occupational therapy, physical therapy, or other specialist care when clinically indicated.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends standardized developmental screening at 9, 18, and 30 months and autism-specific screening at 18 and 24 months. Developmental screening may also be performed outside these scheduled ages whenever concerns arise.
Source: American Academy of Pediatrics — What Should I Do If I Am Worried About My Child’s Development?
If a developmental screening suggests a possible delay, additional assessment may be recommended. Depending on the child’s age and findings, appropriate next steps may include a comprehensive developmental evaluation, early intervention referral, specialist assessment, or continued pediatric monitoring.
Developmental screening does not establish a diagnosis of autism, ADHD, a learning disability, or another developmental condition. A separate diagnostic evaluation is necessary when a specific disorder is suspected.
Early identification of developmental concerns allows families to pursue appropriate evaluation and support without unnecessarily delaying care.
Looking for developmental screening in Sherman, Texas? Contact DFWPMA or call (903) 957-0082 to schedule a pediatric appointment with Dr. Barbara Graham and discuss your child’s developmental screening needs.