Lesson 1Early intervention principles and evidence-based therapies: parent-mediated interventions, physical therapy goals, speech-language interventionsThis part looks at main rules of early help, stressing brain flexibility, goal making, and family care. It details parent help ways, body therapy aims, and talk-language ways fit for babies and small kids.
Neuroplasticity and timing of interventionFamily-centered and strengths-based careDesigning functional, measurable therapy goalsParent-mediated interaction and play coachingEarly motor therapy aims and methodsEarly communication and language strategiesLesson 2Differential diagnosis and common causes of developmental delay: prematurity, genetic conditions, hearing loss, cerebral palsy, autism spectrum disorder, environmental factorsThis part looks at big causes of growth delay in early kid time, like early birth, gene issues, brain palsy, autism, sense problems, and surroundings, and gives a real way to tell them apart.
Impact of prematurity and perinatal eventsRecognizing patterns of genetic syndromesCerebral palsy: early signs and subtypesAutism spectrum features under age threeHearing and vision loss as contributorsEnvironmental and psychosocial risk factorsLesson 3Initial evaluation and targeted investigations: hearing and vision screening, growth/nutrition assessment, basic labs, neuroimaging indications, genetic testing triggersThis part covers first check of a child with thought delay, with full history, exam, ear and eye screens, growth and food check, and when to do labs, brain scans, and gene tests in main care.
Key elements of developmental historyFocused neurologic and physical examinationHearing and vision screening in young childrenGrowth, nutrition, and feeding assessmentIndications for basic laboratory testingWhen to order imaging or genetic studiesLesson 4Clinic workflows for developmental surveillance: documentation templates, screening schedules, referral tracking, and community resourcesThis part tells how to make good clinic flows for growth watching, with set writing, screen times, send tracking, and links to early help and community family supports.
Standardized developmental documentationAge-based screening and surveillance schedulesEmbedding tools into electronic recordsReferral tracking and feedback loopsLinking families to community resourcesQuality improvement for surveillance processesLesson 5Referral pathways: when to refer to early intervention, developmental pediatrician, pediatric neurology, physiotherapy, speech therapy, audiology, and occupational therapyThis part lists clear send levels and paths from main care to early help, growth kids' docs, brain docs, and therapy services, stressing quick get, writing, and follow on advice.
Criteria for early intervention referralWhen to refer to developmental pediatricsIndications for pediatric neurology referralReferral to PT, OT, and speech therapyAudiology and vision specialist pathwaysTracking outcomes of specialist referralsLesson 6Monitoring, milestone tracking, scheduling follow-ups, and coordinating multidisciplinary careThis part looks at long watch of at-risk kids, with step tracking, use of set tools, visit times, linking many experts, and keeping on between medical and community services.
Using milestone checklists and tracking toolsDetermining follow-up intervals by risk levelCoordinating multidisciplinary care plansSharing information across care settingsAdjusting goals as the child developsSupporting family engagement over timeLesson 7Screening tools and structured developmental surveillance: Ages and Stages Questionnaires (ASQ), M-CHAT, Denver II — administration and interpretationThis part explains how to pick, give, score, and read common growth screen tools under three, like ASQ, M-CHAT, Denver II, and how to put set watch in regular kid visits.
Choosing age-appropriate screening instrumentsAdministering and scoring the ASQUsing and interpreting the M-CHATApplying the Denver II in busy clinicsCommunicating screening results to familiesIntegrating surveillance into well-child visitsLesson 8Communicating developmental concerns to families: plain-language explanations, culturally sensitive counselling, setting expectationsThis part gives ways to talk growth worries with families using clear, not scary words, culture care, and shared choices, while handling feelings, shame, and real hopes for better.
Preparing for difficult developmental conversationsUsing plain, non-stigmatizing languageCulturally responsive counseling approachesAddressing parental emotions and guiltDiscussing prognosis and goal settingProviding written summaries and resourcesLesson 9Normal neuropsychomotor milestone timeline to 36 months: motor, language, social, cognitive benchmarksThis part looks at normal body, talk, social, and think steps from birth to 36 months, pointing expected ages, changes, and how to tell normal from ones needing more watch.
Motor milestones from birth to three yearsLanguage and communication progressionSocial-emotional development trajectoryEarly cognitive and play skill milestonesRecognizing normal variation in timingUsing milestone charts during visitsLesson 10Red flags for referral: absent babbling/words, lack of social smile, poor eye contact, motor delays, loss of skills — what they mean clinicallyThis part lists key growth danger signs in babies and small kids, with social, talk, and body worries. It clears their health meaning, need quick, and how to tell change from signs of deep brain growth issues.
Early social and communication red flagsLanguage delay and absent babbling or wordsMotor delay, asymmetry, and abnormal toneRegression and loss of previously gained skillsWhen red flags require urgent referralDocumenting and tracking concerning signs
