Developmental Assessments & Autism Management in Norwalk, CT
From the moment your child is born, their growth and development are monitored by our pediatricians at TLC Pediatrics, LLC in our Norwalk, CT office. Whenever you bring them in for a checkup, we ensure they reach all developmental milestones for their age groups. Developmental delays can impact everything from behaviors and emotions to social skills, academic performance and cognition.
The Different Types of Developmental Delays in Children
Developmental delays fall into the categories of degenerative, nervous system, metabolic and sensory delays. Some of the most common types of developmental delays include:
- Autism spectrum disorder(ASD)
- Speech delay
- ADHD
- Intellectual disabilities
- Cerebral palsy
- Vision impairment or hearing loss
- Learning disabilities
- Spina bifida
- Down syndrome
Identifying Symptoms Through Developmental Assessments & Screenings
Since children are reaching developmental milestones within just the first few days and weeks after birth, it is possible to spot developmental delays during infancy through comprehensive developmental assessments and screenings. At TLC Pediatrics, we do regular developmental assessments throughout the first 5 years of your child's life, through screening questionnaires and focused assessments. Without extensive monitoring, developmental issues aren’t detected until a child begins school. Some signs of a developmental issues include:
- Difficulty talking or trouble communicating
- Delayed speech
- Doesn’t follow objects as they move
- Doesn’t babble or coo
- Doesn’t respond to or show emotional reactions
- Doesn’t mimic the actions of others
- Loses skills they had
- Delay in sitting up, crawling or walking
- Not showing interest in others or socializing with others
- A lack of problem solving or logic
- Trouble completing everyday tasks such as getting dressed
- Difficulty learning in school
Diagnosing and Treating Developmental Delays
Some developmental delays are more prominent and can be detected through a physical exam or simple observation from our team. In contrast, others may require interviewing parents, performing certain developmental assessments, screening questionnaires and tests or reviewing your child’s medical history. Dr. Patricia Jorquera has pursued additional training in developmental assessment, and in early 2026 will start to perform in-house ADOS testing for Autism Spectrum Disorder diagnosis.
How we treat a developmental delay will depend on the specific type. Standard treatment options include:
- Speech therapy
- Occupational therapy
- Physical therapy
- Special education
- Behavioral therapy and counseling
- Family education
- Support groups
- Skills training
What we do know is that early intervention with therapies is the best way to manage a developmental delay and can lead to the best outcomes for your child. Our providers at TLC Pediatrics are experts in development and can help diagnose and manage your child's care to maximize your child's ability in school and beyond.