Special children need and deserve doctors, dentists, and other specialists who are trained, experienced, and equipped to effectively work with their special needs.

As a parent and caregiver, partnering with medical professionals who will work well with your child, and are experienced in working with special needs children and their unique issues can be an overwhelming task, but one which will influence your child’s future progress and path in many ways. Whether you are seeking a primary care physician to direct the overall medical plan for your child, a dentist experienced and equipped in working with the often anxiety-producing oral care, or a specialist for specific health needs, finding medical professionals to partner with is an important part of your child’s overall plan for success.

Finding a Special Needs Pediatrician

Choosing a pediatrician for your child is a difficult task, but when your child has special needs, that decision is multiplied. Who will best deal with the “typical” childhood issues best, such as check-ups, vaccinations, and sick calles? Who would be best at seeing my child for who they are, and not only who they could be in different circumstances? Who will be knowledgeable and current on issues related to my child’s condition and particular issues, and have relevant and ready answers to deal with the ever changing circumstances that my child’s aging and growth will bring about?

Whether your special needs child has a social, behavioral or developmental need, we at AC Cares have a network of pediatricians who are ready, qualified, and experienced dealing with the particular circumstances you face every day, and to offer the best medical and family care possible. Our pediatricians are Board certified pediatricians with the training to assess your child to determine what developmental concerns exist, and coordinate the appropriate care accordingly.

Developmental Behavioral Pediatrician

A pediatrician who is qualified and specializes in working with special needs kids is known as a developmental behavioral pediatrician, or a DBP. A DBP is qualified to evaluate your child’s health beyond the scope of general pediatrics. A developmental doctor has to complete a behavioral training program and must pass an exam, in addition to taking continuing education credits in order to stay current on developmental issues. The developmental doctor will conduct an assessment in order to create an approach that is focused on your child’s special needs and development. This developmental assessment includes cognitive and motor skills, social interaction, language skills, and emotional development.

At AC cares, we have connections with a wide range of developmental behavioral pediatricians who are experienced, qualified and specialize in a variety of developmental disabilities as well as other specialties.

Should Your Child See a Developmental Doctor?

Perhaps you have concerns about your child hitting appropriate milestones, or with behavior issues in the home. Or perhaps your child’s general pediatrician has recognized something in your child that they would like checked further by a medical professional experienced in developmental delays and special needs. Or perhaps it was a teacher or caregiver who – having the benefit of an outside vision – noticed something amiss with your child. Whatever the impetus, an appointment with a developmental doctor can put you and your child on the road to evaluation, diagnosis, and a treatment plan.

Some reasons you may wish to include a developmental doctor right in the hib of your child’s medical care include:

A developmental doctor can help coordinate medical evaluations or suggest appropriate evaluations, as necessary
A developmental doctor can evaluate your child’s overall development and progress and diagnose many different developmental disorders.
A developmental doctor can devise a treatment plan to address any developmental delays and issues to ensure that your child will continue to make progress
A developmental doctor can prescribe medication to deal with certain conditions.
A developmental doctor can be an advocate for your child, and provide any documentation needed for your child to receive services and therapy from other medical professionals
A developmental doctors can act as a care coordinator, navigating through the medical community

A developmental doctor can provide long-term support for you and your child — from infancy through young adulthood.

Dentistry for Special Needs Children

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry defines special healthcare needs as “any physical, developmental, mental, sensory, behavioral, cognitive, or emotional impairment or limiting condition that requires medical management, healthcare intervention, and/or use of specialized services or programs.”

Dentists who specialize in working with special needs children have completed two years of specialty training in providing care for children with special needs, along with education in behavior management and sedation. Children with special needs may find a visit to the dentist to be uncomfortable and overwhelming, and pediatric dentists who specialize in working with special needs children are qualified to utilize general anesthesia in order to treat their young patients effectively without fear or pain.

At AC Cares, our network of pediatric dentists specializing in working with special needs children is available with locations throughout the area, so that oral and tooth care no longer needs to be a frightening and unsafe situation for your child.

Medical Specialists

Special needs children often require the intervention of specialists, whether those specialists are specialized in mental, emotional, physical, or development issues. While finding a specialist that you feel comfortable with, both personally as well as professionally, in any medical field can be daunting, finding one for your special needs child can seem insurmountable. Fortunately, at AC Cares we have an extensive network of medical specialists who are experienced in working with special needs children. Some of the specialty fields include:

Pediatric cardiology
Orthopaedics and sports injuries
Pediatric neurology
Gastrointestinal and feeding specialists
Nutritionists

Pulmonology and breathing issues
Endocrinology
Pediatric oncology
Rheumatology
Dermatology

Ophthalmology
Otolaryngologists and audiologists
Allergists
Nephrology and urology

And many others. Individuals with a host of issues benefit from the care of medical specialists, including those with epilepsy, Down syndrome, PDD-pervasive development disorder, and many others. Whether you are seeking a specialist to spearhead and manage your child’s particular medical needs or a second opinion doctor before taking action, we have pediatric specialists equipped and anxious to work alongside you in the health and well-being of your child.