PEDIATRIC DEVELOPMENTAL DELAYS
A pediatric developmental delay is a failure by a child to achieve the usual developmental milestones within the average age. It is a delay in the development of a child to learn essential skills such as talking or walking. Some kids develop fundamental skills later than others, but the difference should not take too much time.
Signs of pediatric developmental delay
A child might have a developmental delay if there is a delay in achieving these five groups of skills:
Fine motor: Use of fingers and hands to perform crucial tasks such as eating, drawing, dressing, writing, playing and other daily chores.
Gross motor: Use of large group muscles to sit. Walk, stand, run, maintain balance and change positions.
Cognitive: Thinking skills that manifest as an inability to learn, understand, solve problems, remember and reason.
Language: Language skills include speaking, gestures and body language for communication as well as understanding what other people say.
Social: Ability to interact with other people to have good relationships with family, friends, and teachers. Social skills also contribute to cooperating with others and responding to their feelings.
There is a range of few months during which a child should learn the essential new set of skills. For instance, many children start learning to walk at 9-15 months thus a child who cannot walk at 20 months is a victim of pediatric developmental delay.
Sometimes a delay in development in one area might occur at the same time with a delay in developing another crucial skill. For instance, a kid who has difficulties with speech and language might have challenges with the development of cognitive or social skills.
Causes of Pediatric Developmental Delays
It might be difficult to pinpoint the causes of developmental delay as a variety of things contribute to it. Some of the reasons are genetic such as Down syndrome, infections, and problems during pregnancy. Pediatric developmental delays could be a symptom of existing medical conditions including:
Cerebral palsy
Autism spectrum disorders (ASD)
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders
Myopathies, including muscular dystrophies
Landau-Kleffner syndrome
Genetic disorders, such as Down syndrome and fragile X syndrome
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Diagnosis Pediatric Developmental Delays
Doctors use one of these tests to diagnose if a child is developing slower than usual.
Developmental screening: A pediatrician will ask questions, talk or play with a child to check the response. The doctor will use the moment to gauge the ability to learn, speak, move and behave. A screening test cannot be a basis of diagnosis on its own.
Developmental evaluation: A in-depth assessment of skills by a child by a trained professional in development such as a pediatric neurologist or developmental psychologist. The results will determine if the solution is to take a child for further diagnostic test or an intervention/treatment plan. Evaluators can refer the patient to a specialist if the delay is only in one area. For example, a speech and language pathologist can help to overcome language developmental delay.
Treatment of Developmental Delays
There is no single treatment for all the children who suffer from developmental delay. The reason is that children are unique in the way they learn, grow and develop. It occurs at their pace based on the strengths and weaknesses.
The right treatment plan is that which takes into account the unique aspects of the patient for it to focus on treating the individual needs. Early intervention services are the central theme of managing pediatrics with developmental delays as the first step. The treatment succeeds with simultaneous treatment of underlying conditions that could be the cause of developmental delay. These are some of the early interventions that help to solve pediatric developmental delays.
Speech and Language Therapy
Physical Therapy
Occupational Therapy
Behavior Therapies, such as those for treating autism and behavioral issues
Additionally, medical or surgical treatments might be necessary to manage any other disabilities in a child. It is essential kids for a hearing and vision evaluation if they have a developmental delay. Hearing or visual impairment can complicate the situation if untreated.
