Detecting Early Developmental Delays in Children.
Development is a core part of the care we provide to our pediatric patients. It should be monitored and evaluated at every visit. Whether it is performing a risk assessment, longitudinal surveillance, or a formal developmental screen, this important element of pediatric medicine is a part of every interaction that we have with our patients and their families. Identifying developmental delays early and helping families to access appropriate interventions is key to providing successful outcomes for these patients. To detect delays, we must commit to using standardized screening tools and become comfortable with their interpretation. The more opportunities we have to interact with our young patients, the more opportunities we have to assess and intervene when developmental differences are noted. This ensures the best possible outcomes for our pediatric patients. [Pediatr Ann. 2019;48(10):e381-e384.].