Gilbride K E
Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, USA.
Pediatr Rev. 1995 Sep;16(9):338-45. doi: 10.1542/pir.16-9-338.
Pediatricians play a central role in monitoring the development of infants and children during the course of providing well child care. Parents turn to pediatricians for help in determining whether their child has a temporary lag in development, a serious delay or disorder, or a significant behavior problem that should be addressed. With the passage of PL 99-457, pediatricians also play a key role in referring children at risk to early intervention services. By employing a strategy of developmental surveillance, with periodic developmental screening, the pediatrician can determine when a child should be referred for more extensive developmental or psychological testing, which will aid in the process of diagnosis and treatment of developmental disabilities and behavioral disturbances. Knowledge of the screening and testing measures used commonly, as well as their limitations, will result in more accurate interpretation of the data derived from such measures. Once delays are diagnosed and treatment is initiated, repeated assessments over time will serve to identify areas in need of continuing intervention while indicating gains made in specific areas of developmental functioning. Throughout this process, the pediatrician's role as advocate for the child and family serves as a bridge to other professionals and services, with the ultimate goal of facilitating the optimal development of the child.
在提供儿童健康保健的过程中，儿科医生在监测婴幼儿的发育方面发挥着核心作用。家长们会向儿科医生寻求帮助，以确定他们的孩子是否存在发育暂时滞后、严重迟缓或障碍，或者是否存在需要解决的重大行为问题。随着第99 - 457号公法的通过，儿科医生在将有风险的儿童转介至早期干预服务方面也发挥着关键作用。通过采用发育监测策略，并定期进行发育筛查，儿科医生可以确定何时应将儿童转介进行更全面的发育或心理测试，这将有助于诊断和治疗发育障碍及行为紊乱。了解常用的筛查和测试方法及其局限性，将有助于更准确地解读由此类方法得出的数据。一旦诊断出发育迟缓并开始治疗，随着时间推移进行反复评估，将有助于确定需要持续干预的领域，同时表明在特定发育功能领域所取得的进展。在整个过程中，儿科医生作为儿童及其家庭的支持者，其角色成为连接其他专业人员和服务的桥梁，最终目标是促进儿童的最佳发育。
