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As children grow, parents generally see them reach milestones, learn new things, and develop. When there is a concern about the child’s development or health, the parents or caregivers will usually notice it first, and then the child should be examined or evaluated by a doctor as soon as possible. Evaluations and screening will be used to determine if there is an issue and also to rule out conditions. It is important for families to understand the screening and diagnostic process and that it is something the child’s primary care clinician can help them through these steps. Subtopic pages included under “Before a Diagnosis” are:

• Screening Tests and the Diagnostic Process
  • What is a screning test
  • Prenatal Tests
  • Newborn/Infant Screening
  • Developmental Surveillance, Screening, and Diagnosis
  • Screening Settings
  • Resources
• When There are Concerns
  • From Your Doctor
  • From You
  • What Happens Next
  • Resources

Early identification of medical, developmental, sensory (vision or hearing), and mental health problems in children can allow early care and better results for those children and their families. Key roles of a child’s primary care team (his or her medical home) are listening to parents’ concerns, watching for signs or symptoms, and screening for problems that have yet to result in signs or symptoms.

When a problem is suspected because of parental worry or a screening test’s results, further testing, exam, visits with specialists, or even hospital stays may be the next steps.

Suspecting and then finding a developmental or medical health problem and its cause in a child is straightforward for some patients and families, but for others it may not be easy. The diagnosis could take a long time, and might need a lot of testing and experts’ views. For a few children, a diagnosis may not be found or may need to wait for new scientific discoveries.