Parents make it their part-time job to worry about their kids. Especially new parents. When your friend shows off about their 10-month-old being able to walk steadily, while your 12-month-old sticks to crawling, you can’t help but wonder if something’s not right with your child’s development.
Children are different and develop at their own pace. However, there are baseline milestones that are important within a certain age range. For example, a 1-year-old who doesn’t crawl, or a 4-year-old who doesn’t yet talk should get a thorough assessment.
Your child needs to have their symptoms recognized early. Read on to understand the basics of identifying developmental delay.
Difference between developmental delay and disability
Although these terms are often used interchangeably, there’s a distinct difference between them. Disabilities usually crop up during childhood and persevere long into adulthood. Your child can overcome some parts of these neurological disorders, but the key challenges persist. With a developmental delay, early intervention can usually aid in reaching developmental milestones. Eventually, your child can accomplish the same things as their peers with no future repercussions.Cognitive delay
Delays in cognitive function can affect a child’s awareness and learning capabilities. This lowered intellectual functioning becomes apparent after a child starts schooling and has difficulties playing and communicating with other children. Reasons for this delay can range from brain injuries to chromosomal disorders such as Down Syndrome. Usually, though, it’s hard to find a clear indicator of the reason for this delay.Speech delay
There are 2 types of speech delays—receptive and expressive. A child with receptive disorders may have a hard time understanding concepts or words. They may have difficulty pointing out shapes, colors, or body parts. A child with expressive disorders may have trouble with forming complex sentences and have reduced vocabulary. These delays might be due to physiological issues, such as brain damage or hearing loss. Genetic factors may also play a part.