Parents can make the job of a kids doctor easier by noting the time, date, and the general environment of their child’s changing behavior with paper notes or with videos to monitor their growth. What if a parent notices a significant delay in the child’s development? Don’t panic, and be patient when you observe these symptoms. Knowing the signs that a child needs a developmental pediatrician gives that kid a better chance to advance their development, and can eliminate further symptoms.
Eye Contact Appears to be a Struggle
A clear sign that a child may need to see a kids doctor about developmental issues is when that young boy or girl displays an inability to make eye contact. This doesn’t immediately indicate a problem, but babies at three months old begin to follow bright lights and objects. If a baby shows little or no interest in shiny items or does not point at people or things to show recognition, this could be a sign of a cognitive disorder or potentially autism.
No Response When Their Name is Called
Another common symptom that is often reported is when a child repeatedly doesn’t react to their name being called. First, rule out that their lack of responding isn’t associated with hearing loss or language problems. Issues with language can happen with and without autism. These symptoms could indicate brain developmental problems, specifically with the ears and eyes and require pediatric care.
Delayed Speech and Motor Skills
If you witness your child having delayed development in language, speech, motor skills, and thinking capacity, make sure to make an appointment with a kid’s doctor. These could be clear indications that your child is struggling with their mental growth. Speech impediments can be worked through with the proper care, especially when they are identified early on during your kid’s development process.
Problems with Regular Behaviors
Signs that your child may need a developmental pediatrician include observing that they appear to have basic regulatory disorders like a feeding problem, sleeping disorders, difficulties with discipline, complications with toilet-training issues, and other bathroom problems like enuresis, which is a professional term for bedwetting, and encopresis, which refers to soiling themselves in bed.
Learning Problems
Learning complications are often harder to identify for parents, especially considering that they aren’t present with their kids in their classrooms during the school year. Dyslexia refers to someone having trouble reading, figuring out speech sounds, and relating to letters and words. Problems with math, writing difficulties, and basic learning problems in school are other red flags that should make a parent concerned about their child having developmental issues.
Attention Issues
Common attention and behavioral problems like attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and conditions associated with depression, anxiety, oppositional-defiant behavior, and conduct problems are all reasons for a kids doctor to get involved. Let a professional make the appropriate recommendations to apply pediatric help for development limitations in a child. There is no reason to get overwhelmed and jump to conclusions before you receive an analysis from a reliable pediatrician.
