Pediatrics & Pediatric Care

Pediatricians frequently encounter children with delays of motor development in their offices. Diagnosis of motor delays in young children is often delayed for years after symptoms emerge, resulting in missed opportunities for physical therapy and genetic counseling. Earlier identification of motor delays permits for timely referral for organic process interventions likewise as diagnostic evaluations and treatment coming up with. An algorithm for the surveillance and screening of children for motor delays within the medical home was developed by a multidisciplinary expert panel, offering guidance for the initial workup and referral. Highlights of this presentation embody suggestions for formal biological process screening at the 9-, 18-, 30, and 48-months well-child visits; approaches to the medical specialty examination, with stress on the assessment of muscle tone; and initial diagnostic approaches for medical home suppliers. We describe the use of diagnostic tests to evaluate children with motor delays, including brain MRI for children with high muscle tone, and measuring serum creatine kinase concentration of those with decreased muscle tone. We emphasize the importance of pursuing diagnostic tests while simultaneously referring patients to early intervention.