Role of Pediatricians in the Physical and Mental Development of Children

A pediatrician plays a bigger role in a child’s health other than offering general checkups and vaccinations. A pediatrician is your child’s doctor from infancy right up to adolescence and even early adulthood. They can recognize mental and physical health problems in children before they become serious. They are trained to provide kids treatments for different health problems. They play an important role in the mental and physical development of children.

Role of Pediatricians in the Physical Development of Children

Yes, the pediatrician will provide the basic health services to your child. But during the general or sick visits, the doctor can also screen your child for other problems. For example, if your child’s speech development is delayed, the doctor can screen her for hearing problems along with any other cognitive issue. In most cases, delays in diagnosing a problem can impede a child’s growth or worsen a health problem.

Pediatricians maintain medical records of their patients. But they also maintain the growth chart to ensure that any problem with your child’s normal development can be taken care of with the right treatment at the right time.

When a pediatrician performs a physical examination on your child, it is more than just a basic observation of the body functions. A thorough examination can tell the doctor a lot of about your child’s health such as problems with the hormones or immunity. The physical health is also connected to a child’s mental well-being and vice versa. If your pediatrician misses a symptom, chances are likely that your child’s treatment will be delayed or her health will get affected.

Hormonal problems or hereditary conditions are hard to diagnose in kids. These problems often go unnoticed and cause irreversible damage to a child’s health. But a pediatrician can order tests based on certain symptoms in toddlers and even infants for early diagnosis and timely treatment.

So, it is important to select a doctor in your local area who can provide comprehensive services for your child. For example, your pediatrician Gaithersburg MD if you live in the area must be a doctor you can trust to provide the best of medical services for your child.

Role of Pediatricians in the Mental Development of Children

Children can experience anxiety and stress in today’s competitive school environment. Kids can also be born with learning disabilities or mental disorders. It is very difficult to diagnose mental conditions in children as the symptoms can be subtle. Parents can also miss telltale signs such as speech problems or learning disabilities mistaking them as simply development delays. But pediatricians can screen your child for various mental and cognitive problems to start the treatment right away.

For example, autism and ADHD can often remain undiagnosed and gravely impede a child’s speech, learning, and development.

Teens can suffer from depression, eating disorders, and sexually-transmitted infections. They may not confide in their parents. But a pediatrician may be able to notice the symptoms and conduct a thorough examination to diagnose the diseases. Adolescents may also feel comfortable in sharing their risky sexual behaviors or depressive thoughts with their pediatrician due to the familiarity rather than a new doctor.

Behavioral problems can exist in toddlers and older children. Pediatricians can refer their patients to the right therapist or doctor for further treatment. They can also monitor the progress of their patients who are undergoing therapy or treatment for mental problems.

Behavioral problems and learning disabilities in children require day-to-day management with the help of their pediatricians. Mental problems cannot be treated in a few days with medicines. These conditions require assessment, counseling, and care that a pediatrician can manage for kids of all age groups.

Pediatricians can also act as the bridge between their patients, the parents, and other doctors on the specialized care team if any. Pediatricians can counsel children, which can be helpful in preparing them for the treatment. Pediatricians can also help parents understand the significance of mental health or specialized treatment for their kids. Parents can also depend on pediatricians to provide them with the answers to their queries especially those related to serious mental conditions.