Developmental Delay
When a child shows delays in achieving developmental milestones in comparison to peers of the same age range then the child is said to be having developmental delay. The degree of developmental delay can be further classified in three categories, first mild (functional age < 33% below chronological age), second moderate (functional age 34%–66% of chronological age) and third severe (functional age < 66% of chronological age). A significant delay in child development is when performance of the child is two or more standard deviations below the mean on age-appropriate standardized norm-referenced testing (usually conducted in secondary or tertiary care settings
Signs and Symptoms of Developmental Delay
- Child does not babble or respond to loud noises by 3 to 4 months
- Child does not speak a single word by the age of 1 year
- Child does not reach for, grasp, or
hold objects by 3 or 4 months old
- Child does not reach for, grasp, or hold objects by 3 or 4 months old
- Child
does not follow moving objects with his or her eyes by 3 months
Myths and Facts
Myth- Developmental delay can be
outgrown.
Fact- They are lifelong
conditions, with no cure but regular treatment and intervention can help in
improvement of symptoms and can help in effective functioning in various
factors of one’s well-being.
Myth- Developmental delay is a
mental illness.
Fact- Developmental delay is a
neurological problem and not a mental illness. A person may develop mentally
below the average rate or may have trouble learning or adjusting to the
environment but they can always learn. However, with appropriate treatment and
early intervention a child can always live effectively in the society.
Myth- Developmental delay is
contagious.
Fact- Developmental delay is not contagious as it is biological, and occurs from damage or some changes in brain cells.
Issues and challenges
Children with developmental delay
have 4 times likelihood of having mental illness as compared to children with
normal functioning. A major challenge with this is the co-occurrence of mental
retardation and other behavioural issues. It becomes more challenging for a
therapist to deal with such cases and of course regular long-term commitment is
required.
How do you know you need counseling/Therapy?
Children generally reach
developmental milestones at their own pace, and even some move faster than
others. If there are two siblings in the same family then they may reach
milestones at different rates. Minor, temporary delays are usually no cause for
alarm, that can be handled but an ongoing delay or multiple delays in reaching
milestones can be a sign there may be challenges later in life. If your child
has Delay in reaching language, thinking, social, or motor skills milestones
then you should consult to a therapist.
Role of counseling & Therapy in overcoming developmental delay
Although there is no cure for
developmental delay, but therapies those are directed to the specific area of
delay are found to be effective in helping children catch up to their peers.
These types of therapies may include:
- Physical Therapy- Physical therapy
is often helpful for children with delays in gross motor skills.
- Occupational Therapy- This can address
fine motor skills, sensory processing and self-help issues.
- Speech and Language Therapy-
Speech therapy is typically used to address problems in the areas of
understanding and producing language and speech sounds.
- Early Childhood Special Education- Early childhood special education provides stimulation for early developmental skills, including play skills.
- Behavioral Therapy-This may be
needed in some children for behavioral difficulties that affect socially
appropriate behaviors.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
-
What is a developmental disability?Developmental disability is a term used to describe disabilities that occur in the developmental years (before age 22). It may be simply caused by a mental or physical impairment or by the combination of both. Developmental disabilities cannot be cured permanently—they are life-long and chronic. Developmental disabilities include, but are not limited to: intellectual disability, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, autism, Down Syndrome. It may also include injuries such as head injury if the injury occurred before age 22 or other disabilities such as learning disabilities that are related to brain dysfunction. A person who is having developmental disability will have substantial functional limitation in his/her life basically in two or more of the following areas of major life activities: self-care, language development, expressiveness, self-direction, capacity for self dependent living or economic self-sufficiency, learning, and mobility.
-
What is a developmental delay?A slower development than normal development in a child is considered as development delay. In Missouri, if a child shows a 50% delay in one of the major areas of development (cognitive, physical, communication, social or emotional, or adaptive) he or she is considered to have a developmental delay, early intervention services can benefit in this case. If a child is diagnosed with a physical or mental condition associated with developmental disabilities or one that has a high chance of resulting in a developmental delay or disability then the child is considered to have a developmental delay
-
What causes developmental disability?There are various causes for developmental disability, which can occur before, during or after birth. In many cases, it is also seen that a person may have a developmental disability that cannot be attributed to any specific cause. Genetic factors, also plays a role in some cases, also inherited traits or environmental factors such as infections, injuries, lack of oxygen at birth, or exposure to toxic elements, drugs or alcohol can result into developmental disability. Sometimes it is a result of combination of genetic and environmental factors.
-
What are early interventions?Early intervention means, identifying and providing effective support and therapies as soon as possible to children, who are at risk of poor outcomes. It helps child to prepare for the future and foster a whole set of personal strengths.
-
Is developmental delay a mental illness?No, developmental delay is not a mental illness, it is biological.
Our team of experienced therapists can help you or your loved one to better deal with Developmental Delays.
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