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Developmental Screenings

Developmental Screening for Children

Identifying Key Milestones and Concerns Early

Developmental screening is the process by which parents and care providers identify concerns about a child’s development.  Developmental screenings are routinely conducted by your child’s pediatrician when you take them for a well-visit. The doctor or nurse might ask you questions to see if your child is achieving regular milestones.

Here are a few of the developmental milestones recommended by the CDC by age (go to https://www.cdc.gov/ ncbddd/actearly/index/html  for a complete listing of milestones at other ages):

2 Months

Social and Emotional

  • Begins to smile at people
  • Can briefly calm down the self
  • Bring hands to mouth and suck on hands
  • Tries to look at the parent
  • Language/Communication
  • Coos, makes gurgling sounds
  • Turns head toward the sounds

Cognitive (learning, thinking, problem solving)

  • Pay attention to faces
  • Begins to follow things with their eyes and recognize people at a distance
  • Begins to act bored (cries & fusses) if an activity doesn’t change

Movement/Physical Development

  • Can hold head up and begins to push up when lying on tummy
  • Makes smoother movements with legs and arms

9 Months

Social and Emotional

  • May be afraid of strangers
  • May be clingy with unfamiliar adults
  • Has favorite toys

Cognitive (learning, thinking, problem solving)

  • Watches the path of something as it falls
  • Look for things they see you hide
  • Plays peek-a-boo
  • Puts things in the mouth
  • Moves things smoothly from one hand to the other
  • Picks up things like cereal O’s between the thumb and index finger

Language/ Communication

  • Understands “no”
  • Makes a lot of different sounds like “mamamma and babbaba”
  • Copies the sounds and gestures of others
  • Uses fingers to point at things

18 Months

Social and Emotional

  • Likes to hand things to others as play
  • May have temper tantrums
  • May be afraid of strangers
  • Shows affection to familiar people
  • Plays simple pretend, such as feeding a doll
  • May cling to caregivers in new situations
  • Points to show others something interesting
  • Explores alone but with a parent close by

Language/ Communication

  • Says several single words
  • Says and shakes head “no”
  • Points to show someone what they want

Cognitive (learning, thinking, problem solving)

  • Knows what ordinary things are for, for example, a telephone, a brush, a spoon
  • Points to get the attention of others
  • Shows interest in a doll or stuffed animal by pretending to feed them
  • Points to one body part
  • May draw scribbles
  • Can follow 1-step verbal commands without gestures; for example, will sit when you say, “sit down.”
  • Movement/Physical Development
  • Walks alone
  • May walk up steps and run
  • Pulls toys while walking
  • Can help undress self
  • Drinks from a cup
  • Eats with a spoon

In-Depth Developmental Screenings for Children

Identifying Delays and Addressing Concerns with Expert Evaluation
  • If you believe that your child is not meeting their developmental milestones, talk to your child’s pediatrician. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that your child be screened for general development using standardized tools at the ages of 9 months, 18 months, or 30 months, or whenever you, as the parent, have a concern.
  • Ask your pediatrician for a referral if you and your doctor think there might be a delay.
  • Typically, the doctors who can perform a more in-depth evaluation of your child are:
    • Child psychologists
    • Child neurologists
    • Developmental pediatricians
  • At Psychological Assessment and Treatment Services, we are trained and can perform more in-depth screening to determine if your child has any delays. We use a variety of standardized parenting and observational screeners to obtain information on your child.  If you would like to learn more or have any concerns about the development of your child, call us today at 888-666-3089.

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