Behavioral/Developmental Health

Pediatricians encounter a broad range of emotional, developmental and behavioral problems on a daily basis. At Bayside Pediatrics we are especially tuned into the mental health needs of the children, adolescents, and families that we care for, and try to address concerns as they arise. We see our role in identifying, treating and referring children to the appropriate resources as critical to providing excellent pediatric care. Common areas include:

Behavioral Concerns

• ADHD (inattention, hyperactivity, impulsivity)
• Tantrums and oppositional behavior
• Sleep problems (difficulty falling asleep, frequent night waking)
• Feeding issues (picky eating, food refusal, eating disorder)
• Anxiety and excessive worrying
• Depression or mood changes
• Academic Underachievement
• Behavior changes at school (difficulty following rules, aggression, withdrawal)
• Parent & Child interaction struggles
• Trauma
• Autism-related behaviors (repetitive actions, difficulty with social interactions)

Developmental Concerns

• Speech and language delays
• Motor delays (late crawling, walking, fine motor difficulties)
• Social and emotional development (difficulty playing with peers, limited eye contact)
• Cognitive delays (problem-solving, learning skills)
• Delays in daily living skills (toilet training, dressing, feeding)

Many behavioral issues can be best understood in the context of the child’s developmental level, and while the symptoms may be serious enough to disrupt your family’s life, they may not be serious enough to warrant a diagnosis of a specific emotional disorder. We are able to help sort out which problems need more intense interventions and can help link you to the appropriate resources in the community.

There are clear benefits to the early identification and initiation of interventions for a wide variety of childhood mental health issues. Since, as your pediatrician, we are closely involved in your child’s life across the years, we have a unique opportunity to address early the problems that, if unresolved, can lead to significant mental health problems later in life. If you call for an appointment to address specific behavioral or developmental concerns we can schedule a visit that gives us sufficient time to adequately discuss your concerns.

Your provider may request you fill out screenings on CHADIS.