Approach to developmental disabilities in newcomer families

Area of Science:

• Pediatric healthcare
• Immigrant and refugee health
• Developmental disabilities

Background:

• Caring for newcomer families with potential developmental disabilities presents challenges for primary care providers.
• Factors like migration trauma, disrupted education, and cultural barriers can impact the presentation of developmental concerns.
• Lack of prior screening and diagnosis in refugee and immigrant populations necessitates a structured approach.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish a framework for primary care providers.
• To guide the approach to developmental disabilities in refugee and nonrefugee immigrant children.
• To promote early identification and intervention.

Main Methods:

• Literature search of Ovid MEDLINE (2005-2017) using keywords: developmental disability, developmental delay, refugee, immigrant.
• Inclusion of English-language articles.
• Content primarily derived from the Canadian Paediatric Society's 'Caring for Kids New to Canada' website.

Main Results:

• Developmental concerns in immigrant and refugee children can be masked by various factors.
• Culturally sensitive surveillance and screening are essential for early detection.
• Evidence-based tools are vital for effective screening and intervention.

Conclusions:

• Screening and intervention for developmental disabilities can help achieve equitable outcomes for refugee children.
• Addressing developmental concerns optimizes the health and well-being of refugee and immigrant children.
• A proactive, culturally aware approach is key in primary care settings.