A newborn recently discharged from NICU has parent worry about the infant's development. What will the clinician do initially?

A newborn recently discharged from NICU has parent worry about the infant's development. What will the clinician do initially?

• A. Explain to the parent that developmental delays often do not manifest at first.
• B. Perform a developmental assessment and tell the parent which delays are evident.
• C. Point out the tasks that the infant can perform while conducting the assessment.
• D. Refer the infant to a developmental specialist for a complete evaluation.

Answer: (C)

The key idea is to start with developmental surveillance by focusing on what the infant can do right now and using that as the basis for the visit. Pointing out the tasks the infant can perform during the assessment gives you concrete, observable data to share with the family, helps the parent see progress, and establishes a baseline for monitoring future development. This approach also makes space for parental concerns, clarifies what’s normal for this age, and guides plans for follow-up or further evaluation if needed. Taking this angle sets a constructive tone: you acknowledge current abilities, identify areas to watch, and outline next steps without prematurely labeling delays or jumping to specialist referrals. It’s appropriate to continue routine follow-up and, only if concerns persist or red flags appear, escalate to formal screening or a referral.

The key idea is to start with developmental surveillance by focusing on what the infant can do right now and using that as the basis for the visit. Pointing out the tasks the infant can perform during the assessment gives you concrete, observable data to share with the family, helps the parent see progress, and establishes a baseline for monitoring future development. This approach also makes space for parental concerns, clarifies what’s normal for this age, and guides plans for follow-up or further evaluation if needed.

Taking this angle sets a constructive tone: you acknowledge current abilities, identify areas to watch, and outline next steps without prematurely labeling delays or jumping to specialist referrals. It’s appropriate to continue routine follow-up and, only if concerns persist or red flags appear, escalate to formal screening or a referral.