St. Tammany News

Lakeview Regional Medical Center's Pediatric Rehab Services Department will be conducting a free screening of preschool children for developmental and physical disorders on Wednesday from 1-6 p.m.

Matt Pokorny, DPT, OCS, ATC, clinical manager of the department, said they will be screening children under 5 years of age. Appointments should be made for the 15-minute screening to avoid untimely waiting. The staff included in the screenings include physical therapists who will screen for gross motor skill deficits, such as not walking or sitting up, trunk control and leg strength; occupational therapists who will screen for fine motor skill development such as grasping objects; and speech therapists who will screen for speech development and swallowing problems.

Pokorny said parents should be aware of the milestones that pediatricians use for developmental problems, such as rolling over, crawling, feeding oneself and walking by various age brackets. The therapists who will conduct the screenings know these milestones and will have a mental checklist of age appropriate behavioral and motor skills to detect in the child.

Pokorny said physicians also look for these milestones, and routine checkups by a pediatrician are extremely important for a child's development.

This outreach program is designed to assist parents in early detection of developmental problems that, if undetected, can lead to larger problems and can impact school readiness.

"By early detection and therapy, children can receive needed support services at a younger age that make a big difference in their well-being and the impact on the functioning of the child and the family," said Pokorny.

The statistics that indicate needed services are staggering - 17 percent of children have a developmental or behavioral disability such as an autism spectrum disorder, mental retardation or Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder.

In addition, many have language and speech delays that can impact school readiness. Of these children, less than half have their problems detected before they enter school. According to Elizabeth Goliwas, spokesperson for Lakeview, this can have a profound effect on a child's development, causing significant delays and missed opportunities for treatment.

Melissa Pettavino, MPT, physical therapist, will be looking for particular developmental problems in the area of physical coordination, balance, weakness issues in body extremities or the trunk.

Although the screenings will be free and do not require a physician referral, if a problem is detected at the screening, a referral or prescription from a physician is required for treatment. The evaluation will include an assessment form outlining the evaluation that parents can keep for their own information or can give to their child's pediatrician if further action is needed.

To schedule an appointment for the free screening, call 867-4054.