Developmental and behavioural topics for General Physicians
How development and behavioral pediatrics is tested
Written for DHA, SMLE, DOH, QCHP, OMSB, MOH, NHRA and Kuwait MOH — the same GP licensing mix, not a development and behavioral pediatrics specialist paper.
These stems are ADHD criteria in more than one setting, autism red flags, and when a tantrum is still developmentally normal.
ADHD needs home and school. Medication is not the first line in a preschooler with no behavioural programme. Autism is social communication plus restricted interests, not “shy.”
Hearing and vision checks sit under school failure. Safeguarding concerns override a neat diagnostic label.
Can I diagnose ADHD from one clinic visit?
No. Two settings, rating scales, and exclusion of sleep/hearing/thyroid mimics. Stimulants without that groundwork are a wrong answer in many stems.
Autism — earliest flags they write?
No pointing, no response to name, loss of language, and limited pretend play. “He will talk when he is ready” is the distractor.
When is a behaviour problem safeguarding?
Injury patterns, disclosure, or a story that does not match. Refer; do not close the note as “naughty.”
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