Parenting, Therapy Tips

What you should know about developmental delay

There are certain milestones during a child’s development that should be reached at certain stages of his or her life. When these milestones are not reached it is possible that a child may have a neurological disorder such as cerebral palsy, stroke, brain injury or developmental delay. Unfortunately, in many cases a child may be misdiagnosed or diagnosed late due to an inability to recognize any of the warning signs.

What to Look For

In this post I will provide general tips on what to look out for as your child develops, as well as common warning signs that can help with early detection followed by proper treatment and care. By taking note of your child's progress and depending on his age and the severity of his condition, your child may be able to overcome his condition/delay and continue to progress like any child.

Cerebral Palsy and developmental delay

Cerebral palsy is an umbrella term which covers a group of motor conditions that can lead to physical impairment in a person’s development. The condition is caused by damage to any part of a child’s brain and as a result, it can also affect vision, hearing, speech, and motor skills. When this occurs, it causes a child to become developmentally delayed, which is defined as being unable to reach certain marks of progress within an expected time period. As an example, a children who are twelve months old should be able to crawl on their hands and knees and pull  themselves up to stand. They should also be starting to take steps while holding onto something for support. If your child is around 20 months old and still has not begun to walk, then he or she would likely be considered as developmentally delayed.

Early Intervention

It is important to keep an eye out for any of the warning signs that may hint at developmental delay, as they may indicate a problem or other neurological disorders such as cerebral palsy. The earlier that a child is diagnosed, the better his prospects are for minimizing any effects that could impact his development.

The first signs of cerebral palsy may include:

1. Clenched fists, which come about from the damaged brain sending improper impulses to muscles and trunk and resulting in incorrect movement 2. Arching when the child is touched on the back; 3. Frequently throw his head back when a parent tries to pull the child up from a lying down position; and 4. Stiffness in the whole body.

Some symptoms that may indicate brain injury, stroke or cerebral palsy are:

1. A child’s inability to roll; 2. Strong preference for using one side or not using one side of the body at all; and 3. Dragging a leg or a hand. Any of these signs could indicate the presence of a neurological disorder in an infant’s development. Should you observe one or more of these symptoms in your child, be sure to pay attention to your child’s movements and check in on your child’s condition.

Don't Be Afraid To Ask

Remember that each milestone your child achieves plays an important role in his overall development, and helps to prepare him for the next step. In some cases, you may need to consult more than one expert in child development for advice. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, and do as much research as possible. This is your child’s life, so do your best to help your child learn, grow and develop. If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, please feel free to drop a line and we’ll be happy to help in any way we can.