Care for Children with Developmental Delays in MA & RI

As every parent knows, both the physical and mental growth of a child is important. Starting from birth and lasting until approximately the end of pre-school, your child will begin their journey of learning how to crawl, speak, and behave. While some of these skills may come at different times for each child, a developmental delay occurs when your child lags behind in reaching one or more of these milestones, as laid out by the CDC. At Southcoast Health, we understand that a situation like this could be a cause of stress for families who want only the best for their children. Our pediatricians provide compassionate care at our hospital and primary care locations to ensure that your child receives personalized attention with their unique development process at the forefront.

What are Developmental Delays in Children?

A developmental delay may not always be obvious. Such problems could include a lack of motor skills, issues with language or speech, trouble with cognitive tasks, or even behavioral issues. Additionally, a child may exhibit slow progression in more than one area, referred to as a global developmental delay. An excess of 10% of children in the United States experience some form of delay in their development every year.

It is important to understand that there is a difference between a delay in learning and a permanent disability, such as hearing loss or autism spectrum disorder. While a child with autism, for example, may experience developmental delays, having delays in learning does not automatically make a child autistic. An experienced pediatric doctor will be able to work with your child to better understand why they aren’t reaching certain goals within expected timeframes and determine any other diagnosis for the potential cause of the developmental delay.

When to See a Doctor for Your Child’s Developmental Delay

If you’re on the fence about whether to see a pediatrician out of concern for your child, know that there are already guidelines in place to alleviate the guesswork. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that all children be screened at every well child visit in order to better identify and diagnose any developmental delays as early as possible. Furthermore, such screenings can help you to get your child the treatment that they need so that they can begin or continue to meet healthy development markers for their age. These initial screenings may then lead us to pair your child with an early intervention specialist that provides support in a specific area of deficiency. At Southcoast Health, we have a highly specialized staff of pediatricians that are here to help make this process as simple as possible for you and your child.

What to Expect from Developmental Delay Treatment at Southcoast Health

Our doctors are professionals who understand the medical as well as personal components that are necessary to treat developmental delays in children. We have a wide variety of rehabilitative services available, including speech, language, swallowing, and voice services, occupational therapy services, and expert pediatricians. Each child is unique, and at Southcoast Health, our doctors treat each child as such. We want to make sure that your child and your family feel at home, so we strive to provide professionals and environments that offer the best possible treatments and standards of care while maintaining a family atmosphere.

Insurance and Payment Options

At Southcoast Health, we accept most major insurance plans. In some cases, a referral from your child’s primary care physician may be required. Please reach out to your insurance provider directly with any questions you have about coverage. Upon arrival at our office, you will be asked to present a valid form of identification and your insurance card. Payment is due at the time of your visit.

Compassionate Pediatric Care at Southcoast Health

We want the best for you and your family, and our pediatric specialists prove our mission each and every day. We will get to know your child in a friendly and comfortable environment while ensuring that your questions and concerns are answered and addressed. No matter what type of developmental delay your child is experiencing, we will ensure that they can grow surrounded by support from both your family and ours. For more information about our pediatric care services in Massachusetts and Rhode Island or to schedule an appointment with one of our specialists, please contact us today.