Importance of the developmental surveillance by Primary Care pediatricians: review of the topic and experience of follow up in a practice in Navarra

The early identification of children with developmental delays/disorders or with risk factors for development outcomes is important in our practice as primary care pediatricians. Developmental surveillance in well-child visits provides an ideal opportunity for early identification of children with developmental difficulties in order to make a timely referral for accurate diagnosis and early intervention programs.

This is a retrospective study of 472 children 0-6 years born between 1996 and 2002, followed up in a primary care practice in Navarra during 6 years.

Eight and sixty-eight percent of children 0-6 years presented developmental delays /disorders or risk factors for development outcomes. Along the follow up, 51.21% of them have suffered from some development difficulties. Adding the remainder normal population who didn't seem to need special surveillance to the six years follow up, 11.2% of children 0-6 years presented with some developmental or learning disabilities.