1. Not Always Easy to Detect
While some childhood development issues may be easy to spot, others are more difficult to understand and recognize. Developmental delays may be related to physical or cognitive impairments. Some issues can be diagnosed through medical testing while others may not become evident for several years and through intensive observation and accumulated testing.
2. Milestones vs. Delays
Some parents mistake common developmental milestones for developmental delays. A common milestone, for example, is the age at which a child begins to walk. Childhood experts tout that children begin walking between 10 and 15 months. What if the child doesn't walk until 18 months? Is he delayed? Well, maybe. But it is even more likely that the child is just slow at walking and will meet other milestones on schedule or even ahead of schedule. A more accurate assessment of whether or not it is a childhood development issue is the overall functioning of the child in all aspects, not just one characteristic such as smiling or walking.
3. Developmental Screenings
One of the reasons why children have so many physician appointments from birth is not just to assess their health and provide immunizations. Doctors often conduct routine developmental screenings during these office visits, some of which include medical testing, while others are assessments of the child's functioning. There are some screening tools available that the doctor may use, while others rely on their own experience and develop their own tools. Repeated visits help the physician keep an accurate record of the child's developmental progress while also ensuring that their health needs are met.
4. How Can Parents Help?
Since the doctor can't be present all the time, it is important for parents to be observant about details that could be important in assessing childhood development issues. Keeping a log of developmental milestones at home is important, but also is a basic understanding a the child's temperament. A relaxed, easy-going child may be content to crawl for a long period of time than an aggressive, intent child. Both may be progressing normally, yet some parents may think that the child who waits longer to walk is delayed. This information will help the physician and other health professionals make accurate decisions during health care visits.
5. When to Seek Professional Help
Some children may need more intervention than others. When it becomes obvious that a child is having developmental issues, parents should seek intervention as soon as possible. It may be helpful, for example, to have a physical or speech therapist work with the child in addition to a pediatrician and a neurologist. Parents may need to take more of an advocacy role when seeking help so that the child is able to receive the maximum benefit for services. There are programs that can help in each community; however, some of these programs have age limitations. For this reason it is important to seek services as soon as possible.
