Developmental Screening

A developmental screening is a valuable tool to track your child’s growth, development, and milestones. At Sunny Hill Pediatrics in Frisco, Texas, board-certified pediatrician Min Jung, MD, provides comprehensive screening for infants and children to ensure your little one remains on track for their age and receives any necessary support. Call the pediatric clinic today or schedule an appointment online to learn more.

What is a developmental screening?

A developmental screening is a comprehensive assessment that determines whether your child is meeting their expected milestones. It evaluates their cognitive, social-emotional, and communication abilities providing valuable insights into their overall development and helping identify areas where they may benefit from additional support or professional intervention.

What does a developmental screening include?

The specific components of a developmental screening depend on your child’s age, medical history, and unique needs. These thorough evaluations typically cover the following areas:

Speech and language
This screening focuses on language, communication skills, and vocabulary development. A speech and language screening can also assess your child’s ability to understand and follow instructions and interact with others through language.

Cognitive
Cognitive screenings evaluate your child’s thinking, processing, and problem-solving abilities. They also assess memory retention and how your child learns.

Motor
Assessing your child’s motor function is an essential part of developmental screenings. This part of the exam focuses on gross motor skills, like crawling, rolling over, and walking, and fine motor skills, including grasping objects and writing.

Social-emotional
This area of developmental screenings assesses your child’s social skills, emotional regulation, interactions with others, and ability to comprehend and express emotions.

Adaptive
Adaptive development is your child’s ability to complete everyday tasks, such as feeding, dressing, and going to the bathroom on their own.

What can I expect from my child’s developmental screening?

A developmental screening is a thorough assessment that covers many areas of your child’s developmental growth and milestones. Common components typically include:

• Medical history review
• Observation
• Questionnaires and interviews
• Physical exam
• Cognitive assessment
• Developmental milestone evaluation
• Communication screening
• Recommendations
• Specialist referrals

Developmental screenings don’t provide diagnoses. If your child needs further evaluations, Dr. Jung may recommend returning for another visit or scheduling an appointment with a developmental or behavioral specialist.

How often does my child need a developmental screening?

The frequency of developmental screenings depends on your child’s age. All children benefit from regular well visits, which begin shortly after birth and continue annually throughout childhood. Dr. Jung may encourage more frequent visits to monitor your child’s developmental progress. 

Call Sunny Hill Pediatrics today or schedule an appointment online to book a developmental screening with Dr. Jung.