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Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale
Published on: August 25, 2014
Early identification of infants at risk for developmental disabilities
1Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee 53226, USA. lbear@mail.mcw.edu
Insights
Early identification of infants at risk for developmental delay is crucial for timely intervention. Primary care practitioners play a key role in recognizing and referring infants needing developmental evaluation and support.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Developmental Pediatrics
- Child Health
Background:
- Early identification of infants at risk for developmental delay is critical for effective intervention.
- Challenges exist in early detection, yet primary care settings offer a unique opportunity for recognition.
Purpose of the Study:
- To emphasize the importance of early identification and referral for infants with potential developmental delays.
- To outline the role of primary care practitioners in this process.
Main Methods:
- Review of the essential components for early recognition: child history, physical examination, and developmental assessment.
- Understanding developmental precursors of skills.
Main Results:
- Primary care practitioners are ideally positioned to identify and refer infants requiring developmental evaluation.
- Referral facilitates formal assessment and potential interdisciplinary remediation plans.
Conclusions:
- Early recognition and referral by primary care practitioners are vital for infants at risk of developmental delay.
- A structured approach ensures appropriate evaluation, diagnosis, and intervention planning, or expectant observation if no issues are found.
Abstract:
Early identification of infants at risk for developmental delay is of the utmost importance to initiate appropriate intervention. Although early detection can be a challenge, the primary care practitioner is in the ideal position to recognize and refer these children. Early recognition requires an in-depth knowledge of the child's history, general physical examination, and developmental level and an understanding of the expected developmental precursors of a skill. Referral to appropriate interventional resources leads to a formalized developmental and neurologic evaluation. If necessary, the development of an interdisciplinary comprehensive plan of remediation can occur and a definitive diagnosis can be made. If no significant problem is found, a decision to provide expectant observation is warranted.
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