Childhood development is often marked by milestones, such as when a child learns to crawl and walk or says her first word. However, many children do not reach these milestones at expected times, which is often related to some form of delayed development. This delay can vary in severity from mild to severe, which can sometimes make discovering a delay difficult. Regardless, proper support and attention is needed to the problem to help your child succeed and grow.
Types
Developmental delays occur in several different areas revolving around skills types that develop during child growth. For example, fine motor skills, or the ability to perform activities like writing, eating or dressing, can be affected. Gross motor skills, such as being able to walk, stand or keep balance, may also be delayed. Language skills are another type that can be delayed, such as the ability to speak or the ability to understand language. Cognitive skills development delays include the abilities to learn, remember or problem solve. Finally, social skill delays can occur affecting the ability to interact with others, build relationships or respond to the feelings of others appropriately.
Causes
Just as there are many types of developmental delays, these delays can also be caused by multiple issues. More severe cases of development delays come from genetic issues or diseases such as Down syndrome. Development delays may also come from physical disabilities, such as a lack of hearing or affected eyesight. Many delays can revolve around issues with birth, including premature births that affect fetal development, or infections during birth or pregnancy which can alter brain or physical functions. Exposures to toxins in the environment also play a role, such as with lead poisoning or exposure to other harmful toxins.
Diagnosis
Developmental delays are important to catch as early as possible, as this gives time to change the way children are raised and taught so that they can better succeed. To diagnose a developmental delay, a specialist will typically take your child through a developmental assessment. During this process, your child will be subjected to a wide range of tests, depending on the professional and state the tests are being performed in. These may include physical evaluations for sight and hearing, questionnaires for the parent or guardian to fill out regarding child behaviors, tests that observe your child's emotional or social skills, and performance-based tests that measure your child's language, motor, cognitive, adaptive and visual skills. Talk to your pediatrician or a child development expert for more information.
Treatment Options
Once a developmental delay has been diagnosed, you and your doctor or specialist can work together to develop a plan to address the delay and create a learning atmosphere catered to your child's success. This may include enrolling your child in a special education program at school or scheduling sessions with specialized professionals, such as a speech therapist. Treatment may also expand to specific nutrition plans and behavioral counseling. As your child ages, with severe developmental delays you may also be able to follow a transition plan, which helps children around the age of 14 start learning how to cope with a disability while transitioning into an adult lifestyle.
References
- University of Michigan Health System: Developmental Delay
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Developmental Screening
- Education.com: Possible Causes for Developmental Delays; LL Dunlap
- Firstsigns.org: Diagnosis and Treatment
- University of Michigan Health System: Developmental Milestones
- Early Childhood Michigan: Developmental Screening Tools
