Developmental Diagnoses

At the Child Development Network, we try to understand each child as an individual. To achieve this, we think about diagnosis in three stages.

Stage 1 - medical diagnosis

If children have neurodevelopmental and / or medical problems, we try to understand what is wrong medically, and, if possible, give this a medical diagnosis. This is like diagnosing asthma, diabetes or a genetic condition.

Stage 2 - neurodevelopmental strengths and weaknesses

Here we try to build a model of how the child functions in day to day life. Such a model uses description (strengths and weaknesses) rather than category diagnoses (such as ADHD or Autism). It includes:

  • The child's strengths and interests
  • Neurodevelopmental weaknesses (e.g. with learning, attention control, emotional control, motor or social skills)
  • Other factors that are relevant from the child' world (mainly home and school), and past experiences
  • The functional challenges that result (what the child is struggling with, and in what situations)
  • Looking into the future - the extent to which the child is likely to 'grow out of' their difficulties

Stage 3 - developmental diagnoses

Because every child is unique, we try to avoid category diagnostic labels as much as possible, and understand the child through individual profile descriptions (stage 2). In some cases, however, it is necessary to use diagnoses, and these are ususally based on the American Diagnostic Manual (DSM 4). Diagnostic labels are usually needed to access funding and individualised curriculum supports.