Are you concerned about your young child's development? While searching for answers, it is important for parents to contact professionals who are trained in assessing children's developmental progress. Child psychologists are particularly skilled at providing specialized diagnostic and testing services to children who are suspected of having developmental problems or delays. Starting this evaluation process now will help your child receive critical early intervention services.




 

What child behaviors might suggest the need for developmental testing?

Poor social skills

Communication problems

Stereotyped/repetitive patterns of behavior, interests or activities

Difficulty learning

Peculiar/intense responses to sensory stimulation

Emotional and behavioral outbursts

Eating and sleeping problems

Self-harming behaviors

Distractibility

Aggression (e.g., hitting, biting)

Hyperactivity

What can developmental testing tell me about my child?
It is important to note that the above behaviors can be associated with various childhood conditions. As such, a comprehensive and integrated evaluation from our trained psychologists allows for making a differential diagnosis and a specific plan for treatment. Specifically, this includes assessing for various pervasive developmental disorders such as:

Autism

Asperger's Syndrome

Rett's Disorder

Childhood Disintegrative Disorder

Developmental Language Disorders (e.g., expressive or receptive language disorders)

Sensory Processing Disorder


What is FamilyFirst's developmental testing process?
Developmental testing at FamilyFirst includes assessment of cognitive, adaptive, social, emotional, sensorimotor, language and motor functioning by standardized developmental instruments. To better understand how your child functions, a thorough history review with parents and information gathered from school, pediatricians and other professionals also are valuable. Test scores, observations and all the information gathered by the child's parents, teachers and medical professionals are integrated into a formal report that includes an individualized treatment and education plan for your child. Specific recommendations for instructional strategies, behavior management, and other needed services are offered to help improve your child's behaviors and build on your child's strengths in order to achieve family and child success.