Developmental Screening Clinic (DSC)

What is the DSC?

The DSC is an outpatient service offered through the CYAS/Department of Pediatrics to provide medical/developmental services in the context of well-child care and to insure early identification of children who have or who are at risk of having developmental delays.

Who Should Be Referred to the DSC?

Any infant or child who presents with any high risk factor such as prenatal substance exposure, prenatal infection, prematurity, developmental delays, growth retardation, physical anomalies, or any other concern that is raised by the family or the pediatrician. Infants and children can be referred at any age starting in the newborn period.

How is the Developmental Consultation Done?

The developmental consultation consists of obtaining medical and family history, thorough physical and neurological examinations, and the administration of development screening tests to determine the developmental age level.

A variety of developmental tools are used to assess infant and child development. The Denver Development Screening Test II (DDST II) is used to assess social-adaptive, fine and gross motor (movement), and language (receptive and expressive) skills. The Early Language Milestone Scale-2 (ELM Scale II) is also used to assess language development between birth and 36 months of age. Other frequently administered tools include The Infant Motor Screen and the Neurobehavioral Assessment of the Preterm Infant (Brazelton).

How Do You Communicate Results with Family and Pediatrician?

Results are shared immediately with the family. Typically, the following recommendations are done at the end of the consultation:

1. When the developmental consultation results in the suspicion of a developmental disability, the infant or child will be referred for more comprehensive developmental evaluation (e.g., cognitive, speech or language, or motor). The purpose of the comprehensive evaluation is to confirm the presence of the disability and its degree and significance.
2. When the physical examination identifies a medical problem, the child will be referred to his primary care provider for additional evaluation and management.
3. Because the infant's development will change over time, periodic developmental follow-ups will be recommended.
4. A report will be generated after each visit and copies will be sent to the family, pediatrician, and agencies following obtaining appropriate authorization forms.
5. Family is given information regarding age appropriate developmental activities.

Referral or Preauthorization

Developmental consultations require a referral or preauthorization from the primary care provider and are billed as a consultation. To make an appointment, call (202) 444-8569. The appointment is for an hour.

Provider

Chahira Kozma, M.D.
Professor of Pediatrics
Department of Pediatrics
Georgetown University Medical Center