This is very important for all parents and guardians to monitor and observe in pursuit of the progress of children’s life. Actually, by this care, one can identify some health issue that might have been hidden in children. How do you know if things are okay or not?
With information! That’s why we’ve separated 5 signs of delayed child development to help you identify them. Keep reading and find out more!
When is a child considered to have a developmental delay?
A delay is considered when developmental milestones do not occur, for example, there is a milestone between 0 and 6 months, 6 to 9, 9 to 12 months, and so on. If they simply do not occur at this time or later, it is possibly a delay in the stages of child development .
5 Signs of Child Developmental Delay — Up to 15 Months
The 5 signs of delayed child development are based on milestones, which are:
1. Hypotonia
Hypotonia is characterized by weak muscles and slumped posture. It is normal early in life, but if it persists until 6 months, it may be a sign of delay.
2. Difficulty holding up one’s head after 3 months
Like the previous one, muscle development happens gradually , so these can be good parameters to observe.
Newborns cannot hold up their own heads, but it becomes a concern when this happens after 3 months.
3. Not being able to sit alone until 6 months
The ability to sit up independently is a great sign of a child’s muscular development. Therefore, by around 6 months, the child should be able to sit up (with support)
4. Not crawling before 9 months
Another sign that your baby is having difficulty growing is that he or she is not crawling. By 9 months, your baby should already be able to crawl around the house, but it is important to pay attention if your child reaches 9 months and has not shown any signs of being able to do so.
5. Not walking alone before 15 months
By the time she is 15 months old, she should walk alone, even if a little. So if time passes and she does not walk yet, it would be a good idea to go and see a pediatrician.
These were the 5 signs of delayed childhood development, but there are other points that can help!
Other signs that may also appear — up to 3 years old
In addition to those mentioned above, we can also mention some points of attention regarding how your child’s neural and physical skills are growing:
- Not being able to make eye contact — within 18 months;
- Not responding when called by name — within 18 months;
- Not being able to understand simple instructions — within 2 years;
- Not smiling when looking at another person — within 18 months;
- Not knowing how to express when you are hungry, cold or in need of something — within 3 years.
How to differentiate developmental delay from autism?
If we analyze them coldly, the signs are very much alike. Hence, it becomes very tough for non-professionals to understand the difference between one and the other.
At such times, it is better to take help from a professional diagnosis because only a specialist will be able to take the right decision.
For example, in cases involving developmental delay, some remedies could be tried with the child-all depending upon what causes the delay. All that could be done in the case of autism was adapt education to the child’s needs and create healthy space where the child can develop as much as possible.
What to do when you notice signs of delayed child development?
If you have observed your child closely during the first few months and noticed that he or she is actually behind in terms of milestones than is typical, this is the time to seek out a specialist.
In this case, a pediatric neurologist is ideal to identify possible neural problems that are affecting your child. In addition, frequent visits to the pediatrician (monthly, if possible) are recommended!
Once the diagnosis is made, treatment can begin. Even though the results are not immediate, recreational exercises to strengthen muscles , correct posture and improve reflexes will bring about improvements in months or years.
Furthermore, after a few years, when the child is around 10 years old, you can opt for public speaking or robotics courses, to stimulate the child’s development through learning.