What is the difference between a General Paediatrician and a Developmental Paediatrician?
A
general paediatrician is responsible for the overall care and health of
children. They compare the child’s physical, mental, social and behavioural characteristics to the norm and are also responsible for
identifying red flags or what is commonly referred to as developmental
delays or atypical characteristics or actions.
A
developmental-behavioral pediatrician is a subspecialist within the
practice of pediatric medicine. This subspecialty remains
interdisciplinary integrating Psychology, Pediatrics and related
disciplines (Carey, Crocker, 2009).
Developmental-behavioral
pediatricians specialize in the diagnosis, treatment and management of
children, adolescents and their families with developmental and
behavioral conditions. Examples of these conditions are the following
(AAP, 2011):
- Learning disorders including dyslexia, writing difficulties, math disorders, and other school-related learning problems;
- Disorders that deal with behavior and attention spans including Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and associated conditions including oppositional-defiant behavior, conduct problems, depression, and anxiety disorders;
- Habit disorders such as Tourette’s Syndrome;
- Regulatory disorders including sleep disorders, problems in feeding, discipline difficulties, complicated toilet-training issues, enuresis (bedwetting), and encopresis (soiling);
- Developmental disabilities such as cerebral palsy, spina bifida, mental retardation, Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), and visual and hearing impairments;
- Developmental delays in speech, language, motor skills, and cognitive ability.
Recommendations
of general paediatricians who do possess a certification in
Developmental-Behavioural Paediatrics but are nevertheless vastly
knowledgeable in dealing with Autism Spectrum Disorders, are still
valid. However, in more complex cases that necessitate the expertise of
professionals aptly trained in the diagnosis and treatment of such
conditions, Developmental-Behavioural Paediatricians are called in.
For more information - here is a Coimbatore based Paediatrician - Dr Ezhilmangai Ra Poo, who can be reached through www.drezhil.com or http://www.geneomm.com/index.php/doctor/dr-ra-poo-ezhilmangai/ rendering this service for the past 4 to 5 yrears
