Blog

Written by Katia Sofianou, Pediatrician – Child Developmentalist, Scientific Associate of the Athens Pediatric Center

The Developmental Pediatrics clinic aims to monitor the psychomotor development of the child in all areas (speech, movement, emotional development, cognitive area).

Monitoring, early diagnosis and early intervention lay the foundations for the smooth development of the child throughout all years, from birth to adulthood.

It is recorded in all scientific studies, the increase in the frequency of neurodevelopmental disorders for various reasons (expressive speech disorders, activity and attention disorders, autism spectrum disorders – ASD). Especially in autism spectrum disorder (ASD), the frequency recorded in studies is at the level of 1% or even higher.

Especially in ASD, the value of early intervention in the first three years of a child’s life is documented. By taking advantage of the “plasticity” that is, the brain’s receptivity to changes at the structural level (of nerve cells), any atypical development course can be reversed with appropriate intervention.

Warning signs for a later diagnosis of ASD appear after the first 6-9 months of life and may include:

•               Absence of quality eye contact and integration of eye contact into communication

•              Absence of variety and quality of facial expressions (absence of friendly and pleasant expressions)

•             “Sharing” of objects

•             Absence of finger use for pointing and intention to demonstrate objects

•             “Instrumentalization” of caregiver’s hand

•              Absence of combined attention

•              Delay in the appearance of communicative gestures e.g. greeting, initial pointing.

•               Absence of babbling or communicative speech

•              More interest in objects than in people in the environment

•              Absence of social interactive play

•             Repetitive behaviors, body movements or playing with objects

•             Insistence on rituals.

•               Difficulty accepting changes (routines or rituals)

•             Excessive interest in something

•                Hitting objects

•                  Attachment to objects

•              Detailed examination of parts of objects

•                Medical interests

In the developmental clinic, the evaluation of the child includes:

•               Detailed history taking.

•              Examination of the child with appropriate diagnostic tools (Bayley III, ADOS-2, Athena Test, Griffiths III).

•                Parent training to recognize warning signs of developmental disorders.

•               Communication with the school context and with the child’s therapists, with the aim of designing the appropriate therapeutic program, which will lead to the optimal neurodevelopmental outcome.

•                At the end of each developmental assessment, detailed instructions are provided to the parents, verbally and in writing, and treatments are prescribed through EOPYY if they wish.

•                Regular monitoring of the child follows until the completion of the therapeutic intervention.

Developmental monitoring and early diagnosis of neurodevelopmental disorders are the basis of proper pediatric monitoring.