General pediatricians promote, support, and manage children’s overall health, including physical, mental, social, and behavioral characteristics. They play the most important role in providing and getting children the care that they need to address developmental-behavioral symptoms and conditions.
Pediatricians address developmental-behavioral issues everyday.
As a trusted health care provider, pediatricians have some of the most regular professional interactions with children and their families. Caregivers often share aspects of day-to-day life and concerns at health supervision and other visits.
Pediatricians play an important role in identifying developmental-behavioral issues by being attuned to these concerns through developmental surveillance and using evidence-based screening tools. Pediatricians can both diagnose and manage developmental-behavioral symptoms and disorders. General pediatricians treat many developmental and behavioral conditions, but may want or need assistance from a developmental-behavioral pediatricians for evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of more complex cases.
If referring to a DBP, what information will improve your patient’s care?
The following information provided by the pediatrician to the DBP prior to the first visit will help the DBP understand the reason for referral and provide quality care:
Patient demographic information
Primary concern/reason for referral
Developmental and/or behavioral issue
Description of issue
Initial date of concern
Medical lab tests ordered/results
Referrals made/completed to other subspecialists
Referrals made/completed to Early Intervention and/or other community-based services (speech, feeding, occupational therapy (OT), physical therapy (PT), and others)
Current services child/family is receiving
Medical history
Birth
Medical and surgical history
Medications
Growth charts including head circumference
Results of hearing and vision screenings
Developmental history including any developmental screening
Relevant family history
What can I expect from a DBP referral?
The DBP will elicit a comprehensive medical, family, psychosocial, and developmental/behavioral/educational histories. They will complete neurodevelopmental examinations to:
- Make descriptive developmental-behavioral diagnoses
- Attempt to determine underlying medical etiologies
- Develop a plan for and assist patients/families in accessing community-based early intervention, therapeutic, and special educational services
The DBP should refer the child back with the detailed plan of action that was reviewed with the patient and family. Depending on the circumstances , the DBP may schedule additional visits with the child and family.
In some cases, DBPs may provide consultation and support (collaborative care) to pediatricians in the longitudinal management of a child’s developmental conditions.
This resource was made possible through the generous support of AAP donors to the Friends of Children Fund.
Last Updated
01/27/2026
Source
American Academy of Pediatrics