What to do if you suspect delays in your child

A reader has asked what she should do if she feels that her child is lagging behind developmentally…..it is very important that all adults caring for young children understand that normal is a very individualized process.  What is normal for one is not necessarily normal for others.  One six month old is sitting up shakily, while another is crawling across the floor to poke at the dog.  We look for progress in children… rolling over becomes rocking on hands and knees, then becomes pushing oneself into a sit, then a wiggling across the floor, then a crawl and finally a stand.  Timing is not as important as the progress.

 The same progress happens in literacy. Seeing parents becomes smiling and wiggling in recognition of them. Smiling makes way for gasps and sighs which open sounds for words and before you know it, your child is a veritable chatterbox.

         That being said, some parents will notice that their child is approaching 9 or 12 months and is not yet sitting up or crawling.  Or their child of 4 months is not responding when the parent comes close to them and talks and smiles.  Or their child of 15 months is not making any attempts to speak or make communicative sounds.  These are behaviors that we in the field of Early Childhood Education call red flags.  They are meant to get our attention and parents and caregivers need to act quickly and seek professional advice. 

         While it is very scary and emotional considering whether or not your child may have delays or special needs of one kind or another, it is very important that you understand that you are your child’s best asset, AND you are not alone. There are many resources out there to help you and your child move forward.  Parents sometimes hope the problem will go away if they ignore it.  Understand that the longer you wait to get help, the harder it will be for you and your child to catch up or work through things.  There comes a time when we as parents need to rise above our fears and emotions and confront the issues at hand. 

         These years of growth between birth and five are very important years in a person’s life.  They are key to all kinds of successful learning and leading a full and enriching life.  The sooner a child is put in touch with professionals who can assess growth in various areas and begin intervention in one or more therapies, the sooner the child can optimize their growth and development with enhanced interaction with her environment.  You are the key to the timing of all of this so here you go!  The steps for early intervention would be the following:

1. Talk with your pediatrician who should refer you to an agency in your state that is specifically established for assessing and providing intervention for children ages birth to 5. In some states they are called Child Development Services, in others they are called Early Intervention or some similar title, but they all have the same assignment.   Your pediatrician should know. If they do not, INSIST that they help you find out how to contact your state’s services for your young child.  These services are available to you at no cost, in most cases, especially with a referral from your medical home.  Most insurances also cover the costs of therapy.
2. Have your child assessed by the appropriate professional.  Do not wait!  Early intervention is key to overcoming many delays.  Turning a blind eye and pretending that there is not a problem will do nothing but exacerbate the problem and make early learning harder for your child.
3. Whatever therapy is designed for your child based on the findings of the assessments will need to be delivered on a consistent basis. There are often exercises or routines that can be done with your child at home and/or at her care facility that are meant to enhance the therapy that will be done by the specific therapist.
4. Remember that whatever the issue is with your child, she will still benefit greatly from all the activities that you will read here at Raising Early Birds and other child development sites.  She will enjoy being read, sung, and talked to and laughed with.  She will absorb her world and your offerings in the best way that she can and her brain will store much information till she is able to use it a later date.  Most of these great activities are enriching for ALL children- regardless of how they process it.  You as a parent may get less feedback from your special child but that does not mean that your child is not able to absorb the world through you!
5. Throughout this process READ READ READ as much as you can about whatever diagnosis you are given for your child.  Join support groups, talk with other parents of children with similar diagnoses, take good care of yourself so that you can be renewed on a daily basis and be ready and able to care for and stimulate your child.  Identify and use your support group for your own R&R (much needed Rest and Recuperation!)  This is when the village that we speak of as being needed to raise a child comes in very handy!