When talking about child development, the first thing that comes to mind may be physical growth. However, child development is more than just physical growth but encompasses physical, social, emotional, and cognitive development.
Every child develops at their own pace, but there are general developmental milestones that most children achieve at specific ages, including smiling, rolling over, standing up, waving, or uttering their first words.
If your child lacks achieving one or multiple developmental milestones compared to their peers, it could make you feel anxious as a parent, but having an appropriate and timely diagnosis and therapy can improve such delays.
In this blog post, we will discuss the signs and symptoms of developmental delays, how to treat them, and the best ways to support your child as a parent.
What is a Developmental Delay?
A developmental delay occurs when a child has not acquired the needed developmental skills as expected of him or her, compared to others of the same age. These delays could occur in the areas of motor function, cognitive, speech and language, social skills, and play. Whereas, Global developmental delay occurs when a young child has significant delays in two or more of these areas of development.
There are various types of developmental delays, and they include:
- Cognitive skills: In this developmental delay, your child develops difficulty understanding information, such as following directions or solving problems.
- Social and emotional skills: Here, your child finds it difficult to express feelings, cannot comprehend verbal and non-verbal cues, or cope with unexpected changes.
- Speech and language skills: In this type, your child struggles to speak a word or understand a conversation.
- Fine and gross motor skills: Here, your child has difficulty rolling over, sitting up, walking, writing, or holding an object.
A child could have one or more of these types of developmental delays.
Can developmental delay be said to be the same as autism?
A developmental delay occurs when a child achieves developmental milestones much later than the expected timetable. Usually, a child can acquire some of these skills at a slower or faster pace compared to others of the same age. However, a quick intervention and support can bridge this development gap.
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that occurs in early childhood and continues as time progresses. Children with autism spectrum disorder encounter difficulties in engaging with others, establishing relationships, and using language effectively.
What causes Developmental Delays?
There is no particular cause for developmental delays. Factors that could contribute to the occurrence of a developmental delay may occur before a child is born, during the birth process, and after birth, and these include:
- Hereditary or Genetic conditions like Down syndrome or Fragile X syndrome
- Metabolic disorders like phenylketonuria (PKU)
- Trauma to the brain, such as shaken baby syndrome
- Severe psychosocial trauma, such as post-traumatic stress disorder
- Environmental factors such as prenatal exposure to premature birth, low birth weight, alcohol, drugs/narcotics, or marijuana, poor nutrition, inadequate oxygen at birth, exposure to lead poisoning after birth, chronic ear infections, or severe trauma like child abuse
- The occurrence of a severe infection
- Lack of food
In other cases, it may not be possible to find the exact cause of the developmental delay.
Signs of Developmental Delays in Children
There are different signs of developmental delays that occur in children and often vary depending on specific characteristics. Sometimes you may see these signs in infancy, but other times they may not be noticeable until a child reaches school age. It is important to recognize these signs early on so that your child can receive timely intervention.
Some of the most common signs include:
- Developing and learning more slowly than other children of the same age
- Walking, rolling over, sitting up, or crawling, much later than what is more developmentally appropriate
- Impaired social skills, having difficulties communicating or socializing with others
- Getting lower-than-average scores on IQ tests
- Difficulties talking or talking late
- Having problems remembering things
- Inability to connect actions with consequences
- Difficulty with logical thinking, Impaired problem-solving skills, and Inability to understand cause and effect.
- Trouble learning in school
- Inability to do daily tasks like getting dressed or using the restroom without support
- Having consistent and extreme tantrums or a lack of responsiveness.
- Having difficulties with feeding
- Difficulty understanding and speaking words. Delayed speech development.
If there is an underlying medical reason that causes this delay, identifying and treating that condition may improve your child’s developmental skills. If you have any concerns about your child’s development, don't hesitate to consult with a pediatrician or a developmental specialist.
Treatment of Developmental Delays in Children
1.Seeking Early Intervention
Early intervention is very crucial for children with developmental delays. The earlier a child receives support and interventions, the better their long-term outcomes will be. Depending on the type of delay, intervention may include speech therapy, occupational therapy, behavior therapy, or physical therapy.
Parents should often observe their development, especially if their child was born prematurely, has different health conditions, and has difficulty hearing or seeing. Your child’s paediatrician may perform a diagnosis before referring to specialists such as a speech therapist, occupational therapist, or neurologist.
2.Therapies for Developmental Delays
Although there is no cure for developmental delay, therapies directed to the specific area of delay can be very effective in helping children catch up to their peers. These types of therapies may include:
- Physical Therapy: It is often helpful for children with delays in gross motor skills.
- Occupational Therapy: This therapy addresses fine motor skills, sensory processing, and self-help issues.
- Speech and Language Therapy: Speech therapy is usually used to address problems in the areas of understanding and producing language and speech sounds.
- Behavioral Therapy: This may be needed in some children who have behavioral difficulties that affect socially appropriate behaviors.
- Early Childhood Special Education: Early childhood special education provides stimulation for early developmental skills, including play skills.
How Do You Prevent Developmental Delay in Children?
The cause of developmental delay in children is still unclear. During pregnancy, it is recommended that a mother take care of herself, avoid toxin exposure, and attend all her prenatal appointments. If you notice your child has a developmental delay, consult a pediatrician as quickly as possible, as early intervention in babies and children up to 3 years old is the best way to avoid the long-term effects of developmental delays.
How Do You Help Your Child Overcome Developmental Delays As a Parent?
As a parent, you play a crucial role in supporting your child’s development. You can do this by learning about developmental milestones and ways to promote your child's growth and development, such as talking, playing, singing, and reading to your child. Encourage them to try new activities and allow them to make mistakes and learn from them. Also, ensure that you are taking care of your own mental and physical health so you can be the best support for your child.
Other ways you can help your child overcome developmental delays include:
- Playing with your child through activities that can enhance fine motor skills. Playing with adults or friends can help them develop language and social skills, while playing on a playground can foster physical, social, and emotional growth through peer interaction.
- Reading with your child to improve language learning, the more words your child hears, the more words they learn.
- Limiting screen time to less than an hour per day. Your child can learn best through social interactions with others.
- Using a visual schedule to help your child follow the everyday routine and understand roles and responsibilities.
- And lastly, discuss with your child’s pediatrician regularly for tips and support to help your child grow well.
Dr. Favvy
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Disclaimer
The information on this blog is just for educational purposes only.
It should not be used as a replacement for the medical care and advise of your child’s pediatrician.
Always consult your pharmacist before giving your child any drug.
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