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Home › Articles › Special Needs › Discovering Pervasive Development Disorders

Discovering Pervasive Development Disorders

Finding Help for Special Needs Children

By Debbie Vallejo, M. Ed.

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A Valid Concern?
Even with a growing number of children diagnosed with developmental disabilities each year, a diagnosis can often be subjective and difficult to find. In a recent article, The Mismeasure of Young Children, psychologists Dr. John Neisworth and Dr. Stephen Bagnato say nearly 60 percent of children involved in their research would have been declared "untestable" if the psychologists followed current testing procedures. Major reasons include a child's "lack of language, poor motor skills, poor social skills and lack of attention and other self-control behaviors."

Children with developmental delays are not able to communicate as clearly to answer questions asked by physicians. Stacey says this was one of her biggest frustrations. "It was like one big vicious cycle," she says. "We couldn't get a diagnosis because Parker couldn't talk, but Parker couldn't talk because of his age and developmental delay. It was extremely frustrating."

"The most important thing with your child is to trust your instincts and choose a pediatrician that will listen to your concerns," says Dr. Christopher Newton, a pediatrician for Centennial Pediatrics near Dallas, Texas. "Parent concerns are valid because they spend the most time with their children."

Dr. Newton recommends two resources for assessing your child's developmental milestones, the American Academy of Pediatrics' book Caring for Your Young Child: Birth Through Five Years, (Bantam, 1998) and the Web site Child and Youth Health

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