Herma Heart Center's Developmental Follow-Up Program

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Babies who require specialized heart care after birth are at risk for delays in development as well as ongoing medical problems. Herma Heart Center's Developmental Follow-Up Program provides a team of developmental specialists, including doctors, nurses, and occupational, physical and speech therapists, who specialize in assessing your baby's development.

Close developmental follow-up is especially important during the first three years of life. If additional resources are needed to support your baby's development, program staff can provide you with referrals.

Program services

Program staff will provide a comprehensive assessment of your baby's growth and progress with developmental skills. Each assessment includes a review of developmental milestones and measures of:

• Motor skills.
• Play skills.
• Feeding.
• Language development.
• Growth.
• Nutrition.
• Hearing.

Program benefits

Program staff will provide you with a copy of the report that is sent to your baby's primary care doctor as well as a report card to monitor your child's development. We recommend that your child be evaluated approximately every six months through age 3, however families are welcome to participate in the program at any time.

If your child needs additional help beyond age 3, a pediatric psychologist is available in Herma Heart Center to assist families. Our doctors recommend that these patients have an updated neurodevelopmental evaluation at least once during the preschool, school-age and adolescent years. Short-term therapy services also are available for children with behavioral or emotional difficulties related to their congenital heart disease.

Referrals

The Developmental Follow-Up Program accepts patient self-referrals as well as those from doctors.

Referring health care providers receive a report of visits and care provided. We believe it is important to support primary care physicians as they care for their patients.

For more information or to make an appoingment, call (414) 266-2742.