It's every parent's worst nightmare: your child's teacher at the Davisville Village preschool or your baby's doctor says the dreaded words "I think you should take him/her in for a developmental assessment." At this point you'll be out of your mind with worry, thinking that your child has a problem. It can be useful to slow down and think about what a developmental assessment is and what it means for you and your child. This article should help.

A developmental assessment is exactly what it sounds like. It's a test of how your child is developing compared to the norms. Every aspect of your child's development matters, so you'll be quizzed on everything from whether he can recognize your voice to how many diapers he goes through a day. A comprehensive developmental assessment involves mental, physical, and social development, so a whole panel of people, including a doctor, a child psychologist, and a language therapist may be needed to form an accurate picture of your child's development.

It is people who are around children all the time and thus have a large mental storehouse of child behavior and development to call upon who usually notice when a child is lagging behind, not you, though you may have your suspicions. Therefore it is likely to be your child's babysitter, doctor, or teacher who brings up the suggestion of a developmental assessment. These things are usually caught early, but it is possible that your child may not even know about his developmental disability until he's taking a university English course.

Developmental assessments are looking for anything abnormal about your child, such as an inability to focus on instructions, a problem forming certain vowel sounds, or a lack of growth. Problems that are often caught in developmental assessments include autism, ADHD, and hormone deficiencies. The psychologist in Hamilton involved in the developmental assessment should also uncover your child's strengths as well as her weaknesses.

After the developmental assessment, the panel may make a diagnosis and recommend treatment, such as cognitive behavioural therapy in Oakville. If you don't agree with the panel's assessment, you should get a second opinion. You should also make sure your child is observed in a variety of settings, (with you, at day care, at home, etc.) to form the most accurate picture of her development. Regular reassessments are also a good idea, since it's entirely possible your child is just a late bloomer.