It’s estimated that 15% of children have one or more developmental disabilities. The same number of children have a learning disability. Catherine Meli, MD, and Naheed Rahmet, MD, at Seashore Pediatrics have extensive experience in screening for learning and developmental disabilities. If you’re worried about your child’s progress, call the office in Wall Township, New Jersey, or book an appointment online.
Learning disabilities or learning disorders occur when the brain has trouble getting, storing, using, or relaying information.
Your child may struggle to understand or interpret what they see or hear. They may not be able to link information from different areas of the brain.
As a result, learning disorders affect academic skills such as reading, mathematics, reasoning, and writing. But having a learning disability does not reflect your child’s natural intelligence.
The most common learning disabilities are:
Learning disorders are always severe enough to affect your child’s performance at school. You may also notice that your child struggles to perform age-appropriate activities.
Developmental disability is an umbrella term that includes a group of neurodevelopmental disorders. These disorders are present at birth, even if they’re not diagnosed until the child is older, when developmental problems become noticeable.
A few examples of common developmental disabilities include:
Developmental disabilities are complex problems. One type of disorder often coexists with another developmental, physical, or mental health disorder.
Every time your child goes in for a well-child visit, the doctors at Seashore Pediatrics monitor their development by evaluating developmental milestones. These milestones quickly reveal potential problems with your child’s development in these areas:
If your child’s development is delayed, or they had skills that regressed, the team at Seashore Pediatrics performs developmental screening.
Depending on the type of disability diagnosed, your child may receive treatment at Seashore Pediatrics. For example, medications can improve symptoms of ADD/ADHD and help children become more successful at school.
If your child needs specialized care or therapy, your doctor at Seashore Pediatrics will help you find the support you need and continue to serve as your child’s primary advocate.
If you’re worried about your child’s progress or behavior, call Seashore Pediatrics or book an appointment online.