Pediatricians play role in emotional, social, and cognitive development in children long after infancy

By Ashton Daigle

Research has shown that the earliest years in a child's life are critical periods for the cognitive, social and emotional development and can create a solid foundation for health and well-being in later life.

“In terms of development, from around the ages of three to six, we begin to look at a much broader spectrum of things,” Dr. Erik Johnson, MD, selected as a Chicago Top Doctor by TopTierMD as a top rated pediatrician in Chicago, says.

Dr. Johnson says that nutrition and sleep patterns are still of importance at that age, hearing and vision also become areas of focus.

“We start testing vision more systematically,” Dr. Johnson says. “We test hearing. We start to look at social interactions to see that they are appropriate. We look at development and behavioral changes, we look at their dental health and we even start screening for blood pressure. Although high blood pressure in children is rare, it does exist.”

Dr. John says that the focus shifts towards school readiness at the age of five, including catching up on and completing vaccinations, which is required by practically all school systems.

“At this time we also get a lot of parents whose children’s birthdays fall right on the cusp and the big question is whether the child should start school then or should the parent wait another year,” Dr. Johnson says. “Ultimately, that’s really the parents decision, but the parents still ask us. The pediatrician’s role, through the grade school years, is involved with developmental and academic issues, along with any medical issues that may crop up. A pediatrician is sort of an advocate for that child. If a child gets into school and is struggling, what are the parents’ rights? What are the childs’ rights? It’s sort of the role of the pediatrician to get them to the appropriate remediation or care if it’s needed.”

Once young patients are in school, pediatricians continue to look at different elements of development. Teacher complaints of a student not paying attention in class or having delayed speech may be tied to something more medical in nature, such as an ear infection or wax in the ear canal, than to an impairment or actual disorder, Dr. Johnson says.

“We really see a lot of that in the first couple years of school,” Dr. Johnson says. “This is the time when we see a lot of inner ear troubles, nasal congestion and even respiratory infections. All of these things can adversely impact a student’s performance. It’s my job to look out for these things throughout the span of my patient’s life.”

Dr. Johnson says that he has patients that see him from infanthood well into their teenage tears.

“Adolescence becomes interesting because the patient takes on more of a participatory role in the doctor-patient relationship,” Dr. Johnson says. “In fact, with the onset of puberty and the changes that accompany it, it’s not uncommon at all for the patients to want to meet with and talk to their doctor alone, without their parents. That’s sort of where my role shifts a little bit to that of both an educator and a moderator. I try to allay concerns the patient may have and then help them to develop ways in which to talk to their parents about certain topics.”

Dr. Erik Johnson, MD, was selected by TopTierMD as a Chicago Top Doctor and is considered Best in Pediatrics in Chicago. He specializes in general pediatric care from birth through adolescence.