Pediatrician or child-health physician
Can review the child's broader health and development, examine when needed, and decide whether screening, tests, or referral may be appropriate.
Navigation guide
Which professional does what?
Different professionals answer different questions. You do not need to choose the perfect specialist before you can start asking for help.
01
Medical starting points
Professionals who can look at the wider health picture.
Development-focused physician
May assess more complex developmental concerns and coordinate multidisciplinary evaluation where that service is available.
Child and adolescent psychiatrist
A medical specialist who may assess significant mental-health, behavioural, emotional, or neurodevelopmental concerns when psychiatric expertise is relevant.
02
Communication and hearing
Professionals who may focus on communication or hearing.
Speech-language professional
May assess and support speech, language, communication, feeding, or related skills depending on training and service scope.
Audiologist or hearing professional
Assesses hearing and related auditory concerns. Hearing may be checked when speech or language development is a concern.
03
Movement, participation, learning
Therapy and education roles.
Occupational therapist
May work on participation in everyday activities, fine-motor skills, self-care, sensory or functional needs depending on assessment.
Physiotherapist
May assess and support movement, posture, balance, mobility, strength, and physical function.
Psychologist
Depending on training, may assess learning, cognition, behaviour, emotions, or development and may provide psychological intervention.
Special educator
May support learning access, classroom participation, individualized teaching strategies, and educational goals.
04
Before choosing
Ask about role, qualification, and coordination.
- What qualification and professional training do you hold?
- What exactly will you assess or support?
- How will goals be decided and reviewed?
- How will you communicate with the child's other professionals or school when needed?
- What outcome would mean the plan should change?