Common Developmental Delays

When Your Child Falls Behind Their Peers

Parents often keep a close eye on the development of their children, from the first-time baby rolls over and their first steps, to the day when babbling turns into “mommy” and “daddy.”

There is usually nothing to worry about, and every child develops at their own rate, reaching milestones a little early or a little later compared to children their own age.

According to a study by Johns Hopkins, it’s thought that only 12 to 15% of American children experience some form of developmental delay. For those children, there are five main areas to watch for. These include:

• Fine and Gross Motor Skills.  When your baby has trouble holding their head up after 6 months, or is not crawling by 8 months, there may be a motor skill delay. Does your child have trouble reaching for, grasping, or holding objects? Can they sit up without help?
• Social and Emotional Skills. By 3 months, babies often develop their first smile, and by 7 months know their name. When toddlers fail to form attachments, pay attention, or have difficulty dealing with frustration, they may be falling behind.
• Speech and Language Skills. After those first words, children gradually learn to use inflection, build their vocabulary and start putting 2- and 3-word phrases together. By 2 years of age, a child who is not yet producing words or phrases on their own should be evaluated by a pediatrician.
• Cognitive and Thinking Skills. Toddlers may not be taking tests in school, but they learn problems solving skills from an early age. Lack of curiosity, short attention span, difficulty speaking, and trouble understanding social cues can all point to delays in cognitive development.
• Daily Living Activities. For toddlers, daily living skills can include things like dressing and toileting. While some children are ready for potty training at 18 months, some may take up to 3 years or more.

For detailed information on expected milestone development, visit the CDC’s Developmental Milestones page.

Confirming Developmental Delays

Unfortunately, there is no blood test or lab result that can prove your child has a developmental delay. The first place to check with is your pediatrician. They’ve been involved in caring for you child, watching them grow, and they are trained to understand how various conditions or disabilities may show themselves in different types of delay.

If your child is shown to be dealing with one or more developmental delays, there is a great deal of help and many resources you can call upon. Ask your pediatrician about Early Intervention therapies from TEIS, Inc.

Early Intervention Therapies

For some children, developmental delays can make every day activities and socialization difficult. At TEIS Early Intervention, our therapists listen to your concerns, assess your child’s individual needs, develop a customized treatment plan, and educate you along the way on simple solutions to maximize your child’s development that incorporate his or her natural environment and routines.

Early Intervention evaluations and therapy services are available under the Federal Early Intervention Program for Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities.  Before services can be provided, an independent evaluation of your child must be completed. To assure impartiality, one agency offers evaluation services while another provides the therapeutic services

To learn more, call TEIS Early Intervention at 412-271-8347 or visit our Contact Us page to get help today.

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