NICU follow-up at Dell Children’s
The neonatal care team at Dell Children’s Medical Center in Austin, Texas, understands that infants treated in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) need specialized care that focuses on their medical and developmental well-being. Some of these children may experience early life health complications that increase their risk for challenges as they get older. These challenges may include social, educational, or behavioral concerns. Not all children who have been cared for in the NICU will experience these challenges, it’s important to monitor their development and provide the right care early, if needed.
The NICU follow-up clinic in our children’s hospital uses some of the latest screenings to identify developmental challenges. By finding concerns early, we can provide the care your child needs sooner, when it may have a bigger impact on their growth and development. With a multidisciplinary team of neonatologists, neurologists, advanced practice providers, nurses, physical therapists, dietitians, and case workers, we work with you to provide routine and comprehensive medical and developmental monitoring throughout your child’s early development.
What to expect at your child’s NICU follow-up visit
Your child’s care team at the NICU follow-up clinic will follow your child from when they leave the NICU to when they reach 2 years of age. Each clinic visit includes a brief medical evaluation and developmental testing to assess cognitive, language, and motor development. Our specialists will also incorporate evaluations of social, emotional, and behavioral development as your child grows.
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3-month appointmentScreening of communication abilities and physical development, and a general movement assessment
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6-month appointmentScreening of communication abilities and physical development, and a neurological examination
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12-month appointmentComprehensive evaluation of mental status, speech, muscle tone, and motor skills through interactive play with a pediatric physical therapist
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18-month appointmentScreening of communication abilities and physical development, and a social-emotional evaluation
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24-month appointmentFollow-up evaluation of mental status, speech, muscle tone, and motor skills through interactive play with a pediatric physical therapist
Pediatric neurosciences backed by research
UT Health Austin Pediatric Neurosciences at Dell Children’s is a clinical partnership between Dell Children’s Medical Center and UT Health Austin, the clinical practice of the Dell Medical School at The University of Texas at Austin.