special needs. WHAT’S A DBP?
DBPs evaluate, treat and recommend therapies for children who have (or are at risk for) developmental and behavioral concerns. While some practices specialize in particular areas, the wide range of conditions experienced by children who see DBPs include: • Learning disorders, such as dyslexia, writing difficulties and math disorders • Attention and behavioral disorders, such as ADHD and oppositional-defiant behavior • Depression and anxiety • Tics and Tourette syndrome • Developmental disabilities, including cerebral palsy, spina bifida, intellectual disability, autism spectrum disorders, and visual and hearing impairments • Regulatory disorders, such as sleep disorders, feeding prob lems, bedwetting and soiling • Delayed speech, language, motor skills and cognitive ability • Other conditions that come with higher risk for develop mental problems, such as genetic disorders, epilepsy, pre maturity, congenital heart disease and cancer
DEVELOPMENTAL BOOST The pediatric specialist your child might need WORDS ALEXIS PATTERSON
ISTOCK
F
ORT WORTH MOM LINDSEY GARNER FIRST NOTICED SIGNS OF AUTISM in
her sons (now 10 and 8) when they were toddlers. “With my oldest, I expressed concerns to our pediatrician when he was 2, but I got the typical ‘kids develop at different rates’ response,” she recalls.
Garner knew in her gut that wasn’t the case here, but it still took years to get the formal diagnosis. When she saw behavior characteristic of autism in her younger son, Garner found a developmental-behavioral pediatrician (DBP) who evaluated him within weeks—and he quickly began receiving supportive services.
It was only because of what she’d gone through with her older son that Garner knew exactly what to do and who to consult. If you’re concerned about your child’s development, behavior or the impact of a disability or disorder, seeing a DBP can speed the process of getting answers and a treatment plan.
A DBP’s expertise comes from a three-year fellowship that follows the three-year residency in general pediatrics. Part of their training includes understanding school systems and how to advocate for special education services. “We can provide a full evaluation and assist the family and child with a comprehensive treatment plan, in order to set them up for developmental and educational success,” explains Dr. Sari Bar, assistant professor in the Division of Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics at UT Southwestern Medical Center and medical director for the Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics Clinic at Children’s Health in Dallas. Some conditions treated by DBPs have relatively clear symptoms; Garner noticed her younger son flapping his hands, not makDFWCHILD | april/may 2022
43
