How Does a Pediatrician Identify Developmental Delays in Children?

At Julia Barriga M.D. P.A., our pediatric team is dedicated to closely monitoring your child’s growth and development at every visit. We understand how important it is to identify potential developmental delays as early as possible to ensure your child’s best outcomes.

During well-child checks, our team pays careful attention to how your child moves, communicates, interacts, and learns new skills. We track key milestones in physical development, such as sitting, standing, walking, and grasping objects, as these help us assess motor skills.

Language and communication are also a primary focus. Our providers observe when your child begins to babble, form words, use simple sentences, and follow instructions. We also look for social and emotional milestones—like making eye contact, smiling, showing interest in others, and forming attachments to caregivers—which are essential for healthy emotional development.

Cognitive development is evaluated through your child’s curiosity, problem-solving abilities, and participation in simple games or following directions. We also assess adaptive skills, including feeding, dressing, and toileting, as these reflect your child’s ability to manage daily tasks.

If your child is consistently missing age-appropriate milestones, has lost previously acquired skills, or exhibits behaviors such as limited eye contact, minimal verbal interaction, or repetitive movements, these may be signs of a developmental delay. We emphasize the importance of early identification and timely intervention. If there are any concerns, we will guide you toward further assessment and the resources needed to support your child’s optimal development.

During your child’s well-child visits, Dr. Barriga and her staff carefully assess developmental milestones using a combination of observation, direct interaction, and communication with parents or caregivers.

We start by asking you specific questions about your child’s abilities, including how they move, communicate, interact with others, and solve simple problems. This helps us determine whether your child is reaching age-appropriate milestones, such as sitting up, crawling, walking, speaking, or participating in pretend play.

Our providers also observe your child during the visit—watching how they respond to voices, play with toys, or move around our office. We may use standardized screening tools or questionnaires when necessary, ensuring that any potential developmental delays are identified early. If concerns arise, Dr. Barriga can recommend further evaluation or refer your child to a specialist for more in-depth assessment.

As a parent, it’s natural to compare your child’s development to that of their peers, and it’s common to have questions or concerns if your child isn’t reaching certain milestones—like smiling, sitting up, walking, or talking—when expected.

Our team is dedicated to monitoring your child’s growth during regular well-child visits, which include important developmental screenings at ages such as 9 months, 18 months, and 24 or 30 months. We look for key milestones in areas like speech and language, motor skills, social and emotional development, and cognitive abilities. For example, if a baby isn’t smiling or making eye contact by 2 months, not sitting without support by 9 months, not speaking single words by 16 months, or not walking by 18 months, we will take the time to assess and, if necessary, provide further evaluation and guidance.

At Julia Barriga M.D. P.A, we encourage you to trust your instincts as a parent. If you notice your child isn’t developing new skills at the same rate as others or seems to lose skills they once had, please bring your concerns to our attention. Early intervention is key, and our experienced pediatric staff is here to support your family every step of the way.

If Dr. Barriga suspects that a child may be experiencing developmental challenges, our team follows a detailed and compassionate process to ensure every child receives the support they need.

Our approach begins with an in-depth conversation with parents or caregivers to gather essential information about the child’s medical history, developmental milestones, family background, and any specific concerns. If concerns arise from screening results or family history, Dr. Barriga conducts a more comprehensive developmental evaluation. This may involve observing the child’s behavior and interactions, as well as performing a thorough physical examination to check for any neurological or physical signs related to developmental delays. When necessary, we recommend laboratory tests or imaging studies to investigate possible underlying medical conditions, such as genetic or metabolic disorders.

Once all relevant information is gathered, Dr. Barriga takes the time to discuss the findings with the family, explaining the nature and extent of any concerns in a clear and supportive manner. 

At Julia Barriga M.D. P.A, Dr. Julia Barriga is dedicated to supporting the healthy development of every child. Through comprehensive pediatric assessments during routine visits, Dr. Barriga and her team expertly identify potential developmental delays by closely monitoring each child’s physical, cognitive, emotional, and social milestones.

At our practice, we believe in a personalized, family-centered approach. Dr. Barriga takes time to interact with both children and their families, gathering valuable information about important milestones such as speech development, motor coordination, and social behaviors. Using proven screening tools and evidence-based questionnaires, she is able to detect early signs of developmental concerns, even those that may be subtle or easily overlooked.

During examinations, Dr. Barriga observes how your child communicates, moves, and interacts with their environment. She carefully assesses eye contact, muscle tone, coordination, play behaviors, and the ability to follow instructions—comparing her findings with established developmental guidelines for each age group.

Our proactive approach ensures that children who need extra support receive it promptly—an essential step toward maximizing their long-term growth and development. For more information, please contact us or request an appointment online. We are conveniently located at 5001 East Busch Blvd Tampa, FL 33617. We serve patients from Tampa FL, Terrace FL, Thonotosassa FL, Lutz FL, Greater Carrollwood FL, Lake Magdalene FL, Westchase FL, and Town ‘N’ Country FL.