Developmental Screening
Child's Growth & Development
Developmental screening involves using different assessment tools designed and proven to monitor your child’s growth and development effectively.
Throughout each stage of their growth, children are expected to meet certain developmental milestones. For example, smiling and cooing by two months of age and rolling over from their tummy to their back by four months.
Delays in these age-expected milestones may be signs of a developmental condition - or a sign your child needs a little extra help reaching their expected developmental milestones.
In either case, finding delays in development early helps your child catch up sooner, which may prevent problems as they get older.
The team at the Children’s Clinic not only performs developmental screenings for their patients but also has the training and experience to help kids who fall behind.
Children go through many developmental stages during infancy, childhood, and adolescence.
To ensure your child is meeting their developmental milestones, especially during those early years, the team at the Children’s Clinic performs a developmental screening at ages the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends. The team provides developmental screenings for families in Billings, Montana, and the surrounding areas at their two office locations on the West End and downtown.
Developmental Screening Q&A
To schedule a developmental screening for your child, call the Children's Clinic or request an appointment online today.
When does my child need a developmental screening?
The Children's Clinic team performs developmental screenings at various ages set by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). These developmental screenings are part of well-child visits.
The team conducts developmental screenings at:
- 9 months of age
- 18 months of age
- 30 months of age
They also perform specific developmental screenings for autism at 18 and 24 months of age.
Though the skilled providers perform developmental screenings at specific times based on age, you should schedule a screening any time you have concerns about whether your child is meeting their developmental milestones.
What happens during developmental screenings?
During a developmental screening, your provider performs specific tests on your child to assess their growth and development.
They also ask you questions to gather information about how your child moves, speaks, thinks, and behaves, as well as their emotional response to various situations.
What happens when my child is developmentally delayed?
When your child’s developmental screening finds that your child is falling behind, the team at the Children's Clinic takes steps to help your child catch up. That may include a referral to early intervention for an evaluation and treatment plan. We may also involve occupational, physical, and speech therapists in your child’s care.
The team may also prepare a referral to developmental specialists for additional testing and evaluations, especially if there are concerns about neurodevelopmental conditions like autism.