5 Benefits of Developmental Screenings

After your child is born, their impressive growth and development go beyond getting taller and gaining weight. During their first few years, your child also starts walking, talking, showing emotion, and problem-solving.

To check if your child’s overall development is taking place as expected and to address any potential issues while your child is young, Rainilda Valencia, MD, Deepika Saini, MD, FAAP, and our team from Valencia Pediatrics in Victorville, California, recommend your child get developmental screenings for the first few years of their life. 

When combined with well-child exams, developmental screenings give you a useful overall picture of your child’s development and needs in their early years. We recommend your child get screenings at 9, 18, 24, and 30 months.

You can expect these five benefits from developmental screenings:

1. Track your child’s progress in multiple areas

At well-child exams, our team looks broadly at your child’s overall health. These appointments include developmental monitoring, but you get a far more comprehensive picture at developmental screenings. 

Areas developmental screenings track include:

• Motor skills 
• Language development
• Learning and cognition 
• Physical growth

After a developmental screening, you’ll know exactly how your child’s development compares to the expected age-appropriate benchmarks. These appointments can be exciting times to celebrate your child's progress.

2. Ask questions about your child’s development

Your child develops so rapidly in their initial years that it’s only natural to have questions about how they’re progressing. Developmental screenings are the perfect time to address questions or concerns about your child's development.

We recommend you prepare any questions in advance so we can be sure to address everything during your appointment. 

3. Learn how to help your child develop at home

It’s remarkable what your child learns to do independently, but you can also continue to encourage and facilitate their growth at home. During screenings, our team lets you know what you can do to help and encourage your child to meet their developmental milestones.

4. Get the help your child needs early

Some children have early developmental delays, which means their development isn’t meeting expected milestones in one or more areas. Many of these delays can be addressed in your child’s first five years.

Identifying areas of need allows your child to get early intervention instead of waiting until they start school. Early treatment gives children with delays the best outcomes possible. 

5. Customize a comprehensive treatment plan

If your child shows any additional needs at developmental screenings, our team uses that opportunity to customize a treatment plan to address their developmental delays. An individualized plan sets unique targets, goals, and interventions based on their developmental profile. 

Treatment can include additional screenings, referrals to professionals for diagnosis and treatment, and targeted interventions. Our team works together with other professionals to support your child. 

Attending developmental screenings is one of the easiest ways to get your child started on the right track in life. Contact our team today to schedule your child’s appointment.