Your child has been diagnosed with a learning disability, and you know they will need accommodations at school to academically succeed. You've heard the term IEP before, but need details on what it is and how it will help your child successfully navigate their school environment. At Developmental Pediatrics of Central Jersey, located in Oakhurst, NJ and serving Monmouth County and Pennsylvania, developmental pediatrician Dr. Alison Smoller and her team help parents—and children—understand Individualized Education Programs (IEP). Read their answers to these common IEP questions.

What is an IEP?

An IEP contains a plethora of information about a child's need for special education. More importantly, it clearly details how the child's educational program reflects their special needs, current levels of performance, and modifications such as extended time for taking tests. This document is updated annually or as needed. The completed or updated IEP is distributed to the child's teacher or teachers, parents, and the special education department.

How long can a child have an IEP?

The age limit is twenty-one years old, or as long as it is needed.

Does my state education department have input on the IEP?

Yes, it does. Your child's IEP should line up with the state standards for reading, math, and so on. While not every child can reach state education goals, the IEP helps parents and teachers do everything possible to help them thrive.

What is an IEP team?

The Federation for Children with Special Needs states that an IEP team is composed of parents, teachers, administrators, parent advocates, and individuals who have evaluated the child or have an interest in his or her educational success.

Can an IEP be contested or changed?

Yes, it can, and a parent or guardian can request a meeting with the IEP team to achieve that. In fact, Dr. Alison Smoller makes recommendations for educational programs and accommodations, giving an opinion on the validity and completeness of your child's IEP. As an expert in Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics, Dr. Smoller has wide-ranging expertise and experience in learning and behavioral disabilities. She knows how best to mainstream and accommodate a child with special needs in an educational environment.

Learn more

Getting your child the education they deserve presents unique challenges. At Developmental Pediatrics of Central Jersey, located in Oakhurst, NJ, Dr. Alison Smoller provides astute evaluations and compassionate help with your child's health, education, personal relationships, and more. To learn more about IEPs, please call our office for a consultation. Call (732) 660-0220. We proudly serve patients from all over the state of New Jersey including Pennsylvania.

How your developmental pediatrician in Monmouth County, New Jersey can help

You want your child to be healthy, both medically and developmentally. Early diagnosis and treatment is critical to your child’s continuing good health. Autism is a developmental disorder which can be difficult to detect. That’s why it’s important to schedule a visit with your child’s developmental pediatrician at the first signs of a problem. Dr. Alison Smoller at Developmental Pediatrics of Central Jersey in Oakhurst, New Jersey can help you and your child. She proudly serves residents from all over the state of New Jersey including Pennsylvania and she can help your family too.

According to the National Autism Association, the signs and symptoms of autism can vary, ranging from mild to severe. A child can appear completely normal up to age 2 and then lose any developmental achievements, resulting in regression to anti-social symptoms. There are some early signs of autism that are important to recognize. You need to pay attention to when your child:

• Doesn’t respond to their name being called
• Doesn’t show any interest in objects or things
• Avoids eye contact and wants to be alone
• Doesn’t understand feelings of others or their own
• Doesn’t speak or shows delayed speech
• Repeats the same words and phrases
• Gets upset by changing events
• Performs actions repeatedly like hand clapping, spinning, or rocking
• Has problems socializing and talking with others
• Doesn’t like physical contact with others
• Exhibits fears and anxiety about unusual things
• Has obsessive habits like lining up toys or playing with toys the same way

If your child exhibits any of the signs of autism, your developmental pediatrician Dr. Smoller can administer a screening procedure specifically to identify autism. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, children should receive the screening at both 18 months and 24 months old. The screening can easily be included in regularly scheduled well-child visits.

If you believe your child is demonstrating the early signs of autism, it’s important to seek out help from an expert at diagnosis and treatment. Don’t try to tackle autism alone. To get help, just pick up the phone and call Dr. Alison Smoller at Developmental Pediatrics of Central Jersey, serving residents from all over the state of New Jersey including Pennsylvania. Call today!

Is your child struggling to get a proper education because of a learning disability? If so, contact your Oakhurst, NJ, developmental pediatrician, also serving Monmouth County and Pennsylvania, Dr. Alison Smoller at Developmental Pediatrician Developmental Pediatrics of Central Jersey.

IEP in Monmouth County, Oakhurst, and PA

Individualized Education Program (IEP) helps children integrate in a school setting by providing them with the right kind of schooling needed.

Starting the IEP

Your developmental pediatrician will begin by providing an initial evaluation. They need to assess how best to approach your child's needs in terms of teachers and other academic providers, like paraprofessional educators. Specialist need to know how to accommodate lectures for your child's learning disability.

More on IEP

Comprehensive and in-depth assessments of disabled students help provide suitable and well-constructed academic goals and objectives for their special needs.

An IEP consists of three aspects:

• How the student learns
• How they demonstrate that learning
• Finding academic providers who can provide the student with the proper academic settings.

Advantages of IEP:

• IEPs help children succeed in their schoolwork.
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• IEPs help students enjoy a "normal" school culture with academic success. 
   
• Successful IEPs help children achieve independence, but special assistance is provided if need be.
   
• Aside from the assistance provided, children are free to socialize in normal social circles on campus.

If you need more information about IEPs and how they can help improve the academic lives of your child, don't hesitate to give Developmental Pediatrics of Central Jersey a call today at (732) 660-0220. The office proudly serves patients from all over the state of New Jersey including Pennsylvania.

Are you concerned that your son or daughter may have attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)? Our Monmouth County, NJ, developmental pediatrician Dr. Alison Smoller of Developmental Pediatrics of Central Jersey, can answer a few commonly asked questions about the disorder.

What is ADHD?

ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder that causes children to react more impulsively, be unable to remain still for even short periods of time, or have difficulty paying attention. Approximately 11 percent of U.S. children have the disorder, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Boys are more likely to be affected than girls.

What are the symptoms of ADHD?

Although "hyperactivity" is included in the disorder's name, not all children who have ADHD are hyperactive. In fact, your child may have an ADHD sub-category, such as primarily inattentive or primarily hyperactive/impulsive. Some children have a combination of symptoms.

If your child has difficulty paying attention due to ADHD, you may notice that he or she is often distracted, makes mistakes in schoolwork due to lack of focus, doesn't turn in homework even though it's completed, or loses homework and belongings. Children may also find it difficult to listen to teachers for long periods of time or follow multi-step instructions.

Children who experience hyperactivity may constantly fidget, find it difficult to stay in their seats in school and seem to be constantly moving. If impulsivity is a problem, your child may interrupt other people, have trouble taking turns, exhibit poor decision-making skills or have difficulty with social boundaries and relationships.

Is medication the only treatment option if my child has ADHD?

Medication can be a very effective option for some children, but it's not the only treatment option. When your son or daughter visits our Monmouth County office, we'll use a variety of assessment tools to develop a diagnosis, then make recommendations that will help your child manage his or her behavior.

If your son or daughter has trouble making or keeping friends, we may suggest a social skills group. Talk therapy can help children handle their frustrations, while behavioral therapy sessions can be invaluable in developing coping skills. We can also recommend educational supports that may make school less stressful and offer advice regarding parenting a child who has ADHD.

Your child can enjoy a full, satisfying life, thanks to ADHD treatment options. Call Dr. Smoller of Developmental Pediatrics of Central Jersey at (732) 660-0220 to schedule an appointment for your child. Dr. Smoller proudly serves patients from all over the state of New Jersey including Pennsylvania in her Monmouth, NJ, office.

Are you concerned that your child may have autism? Interventions that can make a meaningful difference in your child's life are more likely to be successful if they're started as early as possible. Developmental pediatrician Dr. Alison Smoller proudly serves patients from all over New Jersey and Pennsylvania at Developmental Pediatrics of Central Jersey in Monmouth County, NJ, office. She shares a few signs that you may notice if your child has an autism spectrum disorder.

Autism signs in babies and toddlers

If your baby or toddler has an autism spectrum disorder, you may notice that your child doesn't:

• Smile by 6 months
• Respond to his or name by 12 months
• Attempt to speak or babble by 12 months
• Wave or point to objects by 12 months
• Speak any words by 16 months
• Enjoy cuddling
• Imitate your movements and facial expressions
• Make eye contact during feedings
• Play with others

Autism signs in older children

Autism spectrum signs can be difficult to spot in babies and toddlers, particularly for first-time parents. As your child grows older, the signs may be become more noticeable and might include:

• Difficulty making friends
• Lack of interest in the actions of other children or people
• An aversion to being touched or hugged
• Poor eye contact
• No interest in playing group games or those that involve pretending
• Trouble understanding other people's feeling or points of view
• Lack of response when people try to initiate a conversation
• An obsessive interest in certain topics, toys or objects
• Unusual speech patterns, incorrect use of language, or failure to speak
• Repeating words or phrases over and over
• Strange posture or an unusual gait
• Hand flapping, rocking or other self-stimulatory behavior
• Inability to understand humor and sarcasm or interpret facial expressions
• Difficulty following simple instructions
• Strong reactions to loud noises, textures or smells
• Emotional distress if there even small change to the regular routine

Keep in mind that the presence of one or more of these signs doesn't automatically mean that your child has an autism spectrum disorder. Confirming the diagnosis starts with a visit to our Monmouth County office for a thorough evaluation. If your child is diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder, we can recommend a variety of helpful therapies geared toward his or her specific diagnosis.

Does your child display any of these autism signs? If you live in New Jersey or Pennsylvania, schedule a visit with Monmouth County, NJ, developmental pediatrician, Dr. Smoller of Developmental Pediatrics of Central Jersey by calling (732) 660-0220.