The Role of Pediatricians in Assessing and Addressing Developmental Delays

It's easy as a parent to start comparing your child to others their age, especially if you have friends or family with children of a similar age. It may seem like your child isn't hitting milestones as quickly as them, but that doesn't necessarily mean your child has a developmental delay. However, if you do have concerns, reaching out to Tri-Valley Pediatrics, serving San Ramon, CA & Pleasanton, CA, and the nearby regions, is a beneficial place to start because we can both assess and address developmental delays.

Recognizing the Signs

The first step of our process is to recognize the signs of developmental delay. That's when you arrive at our practice, serving San Ramon, CA & Pleasanton, CA, and the general areas, a pediatrician will start asking you questions about what your child is physically capable of based on their age. We can then identify any areas where they might be behind, determine if it could be normal or an issue, and diagnose the problem, if applicable. 

These are some of the developmental delays we'll look for in your child:

• Sitting up
• Standing
• Walking
• Talking (number of words)

Cause of Developmental Delays

As previously noted, if we determine your child has any developmental delays, we'll figure out the root cause, which allows us to provide the most effective treatment for your little one. 

Autism is a common cause of developmental delays. This is a neurodevelopmental disorder that may cause your child to not make eye contact with you, struggle with social interactions in general, and perform repetitive behaviors. Sometimes, a child with autism won't hit milestones at a normal rate as other children in their age bracket.

Addressing the Problem

Your child may need therapy to help them reach different milestones. Sometimes, therapy is necessary to assist your child in being as independent as possible or learning to adapt. This treatment may include physical, speech, or occupational therapy.

We may recommend special education to help your child reach their full potential. Sometimes, a medication may be recommended to help combat symptoms or the root problem that could interfere with your child's development. 

Tri-Valley Pediatrics, serving San Ramon & Pleasanton, CA, and the neighboring communities, can assist if your child has a developmental delay. We can assess during routine visits. Or, you can contact us for an appointment if you have concerns.

Call (925) 460-8444 for the Pleasanton, CA, office and (925) 380-6230 for San Ramon, CA.