Developmental Assessment

Why is developmental assessment essential in the provision of primary care for infants, children, and adolescents, and what are the essential components of this assessment on the basis of a child’s age? Development is a process which is characterized as dynamic and is used to describe the many stages of growth and milestones pediatrics undergo with the process of aging. The process of development is most commonly influenced by the child’s environment as well as social and psychological influences which is specific to each child (Burns et al., 2017). With a great amount of environmental and biological factors to influence one’s growth and development, it is essential for a primary care provider to follow one from birth through adolescents

Ensuring a child receives care by a primary provider beginning with birth allows the provider to develop a relationship with the child and the parent. With the development of a rapport, the provider most importantly has the consistency to assess the child’s growth and progress with milestones. In addition, the provider can provide the important parenting information regarding basic needs, safety and education for assisting both the child and parent with reaching one’s full development potential (Burns et al., 2017). As identified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) an average of 1 out of 6 children have developmental disorders like 0.5% with autism, 3.7% with developmental delays or 7.7% with intellectual disabilities (Sheldrick & Perrin, 2013). Therefore, developmental assessments are an integral part of pediatric care and recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) for every well-child visit (Sheldrick & Perrin, 2013). The essential components of the assessments require the questions address issues related to cognition, language,

The first tool which incorporates simple questions for parents of various education levels to complete is the Survey of Well-being of Young Children (SWYC). The survey or questionnaire was developed to assess those under the age of 5 and is compiled of simple questions which may be completed in 15 minutes (Tufts Medical Center, 2017). The survey is designed with sections including developmental milestones, behavioral and emotional development, family risk factors and beginning with certain ages an Autism screening. The SWYC is also available in a multitude of languages to assist those with language barriers (Tufts Medical Center, 2017). Another common screening tool is the PEDS response form. This tool is commonly utilized in pediatrics and consists of a survey of 8 questions which takes approximately five minutes and is to be completed by the parent. The PEDS response is available in a variety of languages and allows the parent to address any concerns with their child’s developmental, academic and behavioral issues. Research states the survey offers a 74-79% sensitivity (Boston Children’s Hospital, n.d.). A questionnaire associated with the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) used to assess those 5 years