By: Kate E. Wallis, MD, MPH, FAAP
Developmental and behavioral pediatricians (DBPs) are doctors who check how a child is growing and learning.
Your child might be referred to see a DBP specialist if they aren't meeting milestones such as talking or walking on time. They may also see a DBP if they show signs of conditions like autism or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Or, they may get a DBP referral if they are having trouble with behavior or learning.
Families sometimes have to wait a long time to see a developmental and behavioral pediatrician. It's important to be able to get the most out of visits.
Here are some tips to help you prepare. These steps will also help you feel comfortable with the process of seeing and partnering with a DBP to help and support your child.
Tips to get the most out of the visit
Try to schedule the visit for a time that your child should be feeling their best. If possible, try not to schedule during a child's usual nap time.
Keep notes on things that you want to make sure you talk about with the developmental and behavioral pediatrician.
Be on time (or a little early) to maximize your time with the developmental and behavioral pediatrician.
Complete any questionnaires the office sends you before you arrive. These help the doctor get to know your child and prepare the right materials for the visit.
Take videos of any behaviors that you want to talk about. You can share these during the visit.
Talk with the child's teacher or other people who help care for them. Ask them if they can write a note about your child's strengths and concerns. Sharing this feedback helps the doctor learn what your child may be like in different settings.
If your child receives
early intervention services or is in school and has had previous evaluations, you can send the reports ahead of time (or bring printed copies to the visit).
If your child is receiving any therapies (physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy or behavioral therapy, for example), try to find out what goals they are working on with your child.
Depending on your child's age and developmental level, explain why they are coming to the visit. Use words they can understand, and keep it positive. (You can assure them that the developmental and behavioral pediatrician will not give them any shots!)
What to expect: common questions about DBP visits
Parents sometimes worry about what the developmental and behavioral pediatrician may say or do during the visit, or the diagnoses they might make. To help ease these concerns, here are answers to some common questions:
What are DBP visits like?
Developmental and behavioral pediatric clinics may have different ways of seeing children. Some clinics include only developmental and behavioral pediatricians, and some may also include other specialists like psychologists, nurse practitioners, speech therapists or occupational therapists.
Some clinics may have multi-part visits, during which you and your child may meet with different members of the team on different days. Some clinics may use telehealth to meet with you.
When you make the appointment, you can ask for more information about what the visit will be like and how long it might last.
What should I bring to the visit?
Snacks that your child likes.
Some of your child's favorite toys or things that may help them feel more comfortable.
If your child previously received therapies, medications or other treatments, bring lists. This lets the developmental and behavioral pediatrician know what has already been tried.
What should I do during the visit?
Make sure to share your goals for the visit. You should tell the developmental and behavioral pediatrician about all of the important people in the child's life. This should include sharing who else helps make decisions about the child's health care.
Interact with your child in whatever way feels natural, unless the doctor asks you not to. Sometimes, they might ask you to hold off on helping your child to give your child the chance to show what they are capable of.
If your child is able, make sure they have a chance to answer the doctor's questions before you help them.
Tell the doctor about the best things about your child and family. What are you really good at as a family? When you think about your child, what is it about them that makes you smile? What does your child really enjoy?
Don't be ashamed to share if you or other family members might have disabilities. It is important that the team gets to know your family. If there are things the doctor can do to help you understand the information they are sharing, let them know. Some people might need information written down, drawn, or repeated to understand.
Review all your notes to make sure the team addressed everything. If they did not have time to address all of your concerns, schedule a time to follow up.
What should I do when the visit is over?
Tell the developmental and behavioral pediatrician how you think the visit went. Did the team get a good picture of your child? What did they miss, or what was different from what you usually see at home?
The doctor does not need to SEE every behavior to believe that your child has a behavior. Showing videos can always help if there is something you want to make sure the developmental and behavioral pediatrician sees!
If you don't understand anything, please ask the doctor to explain further.
Make sure you know the plan for whatever the next steps are.
Remember
The Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrician has training and expertise in the evaluation and care of children with developmental disabilities. But family members have expertise in their child. When families and developmental and behavioral pediatricians become partners, they can help put the child on the path to success.
More information
About Dr. Wallis
Kate E. Wallis, MD, MPH, FAAP, is a developmental and behavioral pediatrician at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and assistant professor of pediatrics at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. She is a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics' Section on Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics and the Council on Children with Disabilities. She is also the lead subject matter expert on the recently updated AAP Pedialink course on autism.
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