Child development starts from birth until when your child becomes a young adult. During this period, there are so many developmental changes that your child needs to monitor to ensure they develop fully in physical, intellectual, and social-emotion. In the course of growing up, some conditions may arise that can affect your child’s life forever. Luckily your Argyle developmental Screenings/ADHD specialists are committed to helping you identify those conditions and give your child a better life.

When you visit Argyle Pediatrics, Dr. Jones will take you through the various developmental screening they offer, such as fine motor, gross motor, behavior, cognitive, social-emotional, receptive language. Your child’s age and medical history will determine which developmental screening your doctor will carry through on your child.

Failure to go for developmental screening can expose your child to behavioral disabilities such as autism, Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), or mental retardation. Your child may also delay in talking.

Autism spectrum disorder

When you take your child for developmental screening, your doctor will detect autism disorder early and will be able to help. Some Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) signs include problems with interaction and social communication, repetitive behavior, and restricted interests.

Restrictive behavior includes getting annoyed by any change in their daily activity, less or more sensitive to noise, clothing texture, and temperature. 

Diagnosis of Autism

Your doctor will carry out a diagnosis depending on your child’s age from 18 months and above.

When you take your child for ASD screening, your doctor will request to know your child’s behavior and your family medical history. Your doctor will use the ASD screening tool to get more details concerning your child. If the tests indicate signs of developmental problems, your doctor will recommend further evaluation.

Your doctor will work closely with her specialist team to diagnose your child for language abilities, thinking levels, and acquired skills according to your child’s age. Your doctor may also recommend a hearing test and blood test.

Suppose your child is older or at an adolescents stage. In that case, you will be requested to share the teacher’s evaluation report with your doctor concerning your child’s social problems, including failing to understand facial expressions, body language, voice tone, sarcasm, figures of speech, and humor.

Treatment for ASD

After diagnosis, your doctor will administer treatment to your child immediately. The treatment depends on the diagnosis report. Your doctor may recommend your child take medication and go for some therapy.

Medication treatment

Your doctor will recommend medication for your child to treat symptoms, reducing issues like hyperactivity, depression and anxiety, aggression, irritability, attention behavior, and repetitive behavior.

Therapy

Your doctor will work closely with her specialist team to offer psychological, behavioral, and educational therapy. The team will develop a program that will help your child reduce challenging behaviors, get acquitted with life-skills to enhance independence, improve upon strengths, and understand communication, language skills, and social skills.

For more details on your child’s developmental screening, call or book an appointment online with Argyle Pediatrics.