Developmental Evaluation Clinic Provides a Powerful Team of Experts

One of the joys of becoming a parent is watching a child grow and change.  

 Gillette Children’s has a new Developmental Evaluation Clinic to help answer parents’ questions about their child’s growth and development.  

A child’s brain is very adaptable during early childhood and experts say early detection of a motor delay or health issue can help ensure interventions are in place to help improve a child’s developmental outcomes.  

“Babies’ brains are like powerful sponges wanting to soak up everything they encounter, and their experiences literally help form the architecture of the brain,” says Gillette Children’s pediatric neurologist, Nicole Williams Doonan, MD.  

Although every child is unique, children’s brain development and mastery of skills tend to follow a similar timetable. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), a child can typically roll from their tummy to their back at 6 months old, can get themselves into a sitting position around 9 months, and can pull to stand themselves up around 1 year old.  

Raeghna works on improving her strength and motor skills in a Gillette physical therapy session. Experts at the Gillette Children's Developmental Evaluation Clinic determined physical therapy would help her flourish. 

Developmental Risk Factors

There are many reasons why a child might not be meeting developmental milestones. According to Gillette experts, risk factors to consider include an early birth, complications with a pregnancy or delivery—especially those requiring oxygen early in life, and a low birth weight.  

Gillette Developmental Experts Guide Parents and Providers

Concerns about a child’s growth and development can be stressful but solid medical information is a powerful tool used to create a plan to help your child succeed.  

The Gillette Developmental Evaluation Clinic provides parents with the observations and reassurance of at least three experts to assess if a child is on track with their cognitive skills and motor development.  

“Helping parents and other providers figure out what’s going on with a child’s development and discovering the answers is what we have always done at Gillette,” Dr. Williams Doonan explains. “We can work with parents and referring providers to craft a specially tailored treatment plan for each child and to recommend diagnostic studies when indicated,” she adds.  

Gillette Children's physical therapist, Therese O'Bright, appreciates being part of a team of experts in the Developmental Evaluation Clinic. 

The power of three in the Developmental Evaluation Clinic

One of the strengths of the Gillette Developmental Evaluation Clinic is its unique ability to harness the power of three developmental experts in one clinic appointment.  

During the appointment a family meets with a pediatric neurologist, physiatrist (PM&R), and a physical (PT) or occupational (OT) therapist. Each provider observes the patient at the same time and gathers information about the patient’s birth, medical history, and current developmental concerns to understand how a child’s developmental and body systems are functioning. Gillette has one of the largest and best-trained group of experts to offer a comprehensive assessment for children ages 0 to 17. The clinic does not evaluate behavioral delays.  

“As a physical therapist, I appreciate working with the Gillette pediatric neurology team and the PM&R doctors because we all have different perspectives and specialty areas and we can see the child as a whole person,” says Gillette physical therapist, Therese O’Bright.  

Vincent thinks his physical therapy with Therese O'Bright is a play session. The Gillette therapy team is known for making the hard work of therapy fun for children. 

Collaboration brings ease to parents

This collaboration among pediatric experts is helpful to families because it saves time and limits the need to reshare concerns or what can be difficult personal experiences. 

Gillette pediatric rehabilitation medicine physician (PM&R), Marcie Ward, MD, says during the first 5 years of life a child’s brain and body are constantly changing and developing and she encourages parents to reach out if they have concerns. “The developmental evaluation team can help you understand what’s happening with your child,” Dr. Ward says. “We all work together so a child can write their own story and achieve their best life.”  

Families with concerns about their child’s development are encouraged to speak to their pediatrician to request a referral to Gillette. You can also reach out to Gillette’s Developmental Evaluation Clinic directly by calling 651-877-6131 or filling out our online appointment request form.