Professionals Who Can Help
AUDIOLOGIST: Measures hearing ability and provides services for auditory training; offers advice on hearing aids.
EDUCATIONAL CONSULTANT: gives education evaluations, familiar with school curriculum but may have a background in special education issues.
EDUCATIONAL THERAPIST: develops and runs programs for learning and behavior problems.
LEARNING DISABILITIES SPECIALIST: a teacher with specific training and credentials to provide educational services to students with learning disabilities and their teachers.
NEUROLOGIST: looks for possible damage to brain functions (medical doctor).
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST: helps improve motor and sensory functions to increase the ability to perform daily tasks.
PEDIATRICIAN: provides medical services to infants, children, and adolescents, trained in overall growth and development including motor, sensory, and behavioral development (medical doctor).
PSYCHIATRIST: diagnoses and treats severe behavioral and emotional problems and may prescribe medications (medical doctor).
PSYCHOLOGIST (CLINICAL): provides psychological and intellectual assessment and treatment for mental and emotional health.
SCHOOL/EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGIST: gives and interprets psychological and educational tests; assists with behaviour management, provides counseling; consults with parents, staff, and community agencies about educational issues.
SPEECH AND LANGUAGE THERAPIST: helps children with language and speech difficulties.
WHEN TO SEEK PROFESSIONAL HELP?
As a parent, if you have concerns about your child's development you should seek help. You should collect information about your child's performance and meet with the child's day-care providers, nannies, and baby-sitters to discuss these concerns. Ask them to observe your child's ability and development in those areas of concern. Gather the information and contact your family physician or pediatrician.
The pediatrician is usually the first person to consult about a young child. Because developing a standard of what is normal and what is not takes experience with many babies and children, parents of young children are wise to have a pediatrician, or family doctor whom they can turn to. Such health-care professionals recognize normal development, and they are experienced in suggesting management at different stages of growth.
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