How a behavioral health screening from your pediatrician in Rockville, MD, can help your child

Are you noticing your child acting out or displaying defiant behavior? Many of your child’s behaviors are normal, others are not. So, how can you tell normal behavior from a behavioral problem? Your pediatrician can help. Dr. Errol Keith Douglas at Gold Pediatrics in Rockville, MD, provides a wide range of children’s medical services, including behavioral health screenings.

First, let’s look at what is typical, normal behavior. You may notice your child is:

• Appearing defiant–this means your child is most likely testing boundaries
• Withdrawing from you–this means your child is most likely trying to show autonomy
• Acting out–this means your child may be reacting to changes including moving, making new friends, or changes in your household

There are also signs your child may have a behavioral problem which needs to be treated. Signs your child could benefit from a behavioral evaluation include:

• Threatening or harming others, pets, or themselves
• Damaging things belonging to others
• Having difficulty forming or keeping relationships with others
• Showing frequent signs of unhappiness or depression
• Demonstrating anxiety about going to school
• Exhibiting defiance and hostility toward authority figures
• Frequently lying, arguing, stealing, or skipping school
• Using drugs, drinking, or smoking at an early age

If you notice any of the signs or symptoms listed above, you should consider scheduling a behavioral evaluation with your pediatrician. Behavioral issues can have a tremendous impact on how your child performs in school and succeeds in life. If you suspect your child might have a behavioral problem, you can do something about it. Call your pediatrician.

To learn more about when your child should have a behavioral health screening and how it can help your child, talk with an expert. Call Dr. Errol Keith Douglas at Gold Pediatrics in Rockville, MD. You can reach him in the office by calling (301) 517-9710, so call now.