Are you worried about your baby's development? Let's talk about developmental delay.

A baby of the same age in a nearby house has started walking. But your baby is still only crawling. At such times, it is very normal for a mother or father to feel a little scared and worried. "Is something wrong with my baby?", "Why isn't he doing this yet?" You must have wondered too, right? True, not all children are the same, and they develop at different speeds. But sometimes we need to be a little concerned about these delays. That is what we are talking about today, to find answers to all the questions you have in mind.

Simply put, what is this developmental delay?

To understand this, let's first look at what "developmental milestones" are. These milestones are new things a baby learns as he grows. Think about things like your baby's first smile at you, turning his neck, rolling over, kneeling, standing, walking, saying the first words "mama" and "dada," and waving his hands. All of these are developmental milestones.

There is usually a specific age range for children to reach each of these milestones. But this is not a rule set in stone. Some children walk a little earlier, some a little later. That is normal.

However, we only call a child a developmental delay if they are consistently late in reaching one or more of these milestones at a given age . That means if your child is significantly behind in some abilities compared to other children of the same age, we need to pay attention to that.

What are the main ways these delays can occur?

A child's development is not a one-sided process. It is a multi-faceted process. Therefore, there are several main areas where delays can occur. Let's take a look at what they are.

What is Global Developmental Delay?

Sometimes a child may have a delay in only one of the areas mentioned above. For example, a child who is good at running and jumping and playing may only have a delay in speaking.

However, if a child shows significant delays in two or more of the above areas, doctors call the condition Global Developmental Delay .

How is this different from autism?

This is a question that many parents have. There is a clear difference between these two situations.

• Developmental Delay: This is when a child is slower than their peers in learning certain skills. However, with early intervention and support, many children can catch up. This is a condition that can be overcome with time and proper treatment.

• Autism Spectrum Disorder: This is a neurodevelopmental condition that usually lasts a lifetime. Children with autism have difficulty interacting and communicating with others. They see the world differently.

Sometimes it can be difficult to distinguish between the two conditions at first, but the important thing is to take action as soon as you realize your child has a delay, no matter what the cause.

See if your child has these symptoms too.

The symptoms of developmental delay vary depending on the area affected. Below are some common symptoms.

• Failure to roll over, sit, kneel, or walk in a manner appropriate for age.
• Difficulty with things like holding small objects and drawing with a pencil (fine motor skills).
• Appearing to have difficulty understanding what others are saying.
• Lack of interest or ability to solve simple problems.
• Loss of interest in joining or playing with other children.
• Delayed speech or slurred speech.
• Difficulty remembering things.
• Inability to understand the consequences of something they do (e.g., dropping an object from above and it falling).

Why is this happening? What are the reasons?

It is often difficult to pinpoint the exact cause of developmental delays. However, in some cases, several factors have been identified that contribute to this.

1. Genetic factors: Some genetic conditions can cause developmental delays, such as Down syndrome or Fragile X syndrome.

2. Complications during pregnancy and childbirth:

• Exposure of the mother to toxic substances such as alcohol and drugs during pregnancy.
• Premature birth.
• Low birth weight.
• Lack of oxygen to the baby at birth.

3. Environmental and other reasons:

• Exposure of the child to toxic substances such as lead after birth.
• Malnutrition.
• Frequent ear infections (which can cause hearing loss and speech delay) or vision problems.
• Severe psychological trauma or abuse to the child.

How does the doctor detect this? (Developmental Screening)

You may remember that when you go to the baby's clinic, the doctor or midwife is constantly monitoring your baby's development. This is called Developmental Screening .

This is nothing to be afraid of. It is to see if the child has learned the basic skills that should be learned at that age, or if he has any problems.

The doctor does this:

• Asking you questions: Asking you details about how your child behaves and what they do at home.
• Playing with the child: Giving the child toys, talking to him, and observing how the child learns, speaks, behaves, and moves.

This screening is very important because, if there is a delay, the sooner it is detected, the easier it is to help the child. Delays can increase the child's learning difficulties.

What do you do if you find out there is a delay?

If your doctor has any concerns about your child's development, he or she will refer you and your child to appropriate specialists or therapists. These may include:

• Speech Therapist
• Occupational Therapist
• Physical Therapist
• A doctor who specializes in child development (Developmental Pediatrician)
• A pediatric neurologist
• An audiologist

These people will examine the child more thoroughly, determine the cause of the delay, and determine what treatment the child needs. This is called Early Intervention Services .

This is the most important thing. The sooner you get help, the better the results. It's like a small plant. If you put a little fertilizer and water in the beginning, it will grow beautifully. That's how it is.

How can we as parents help our child?

While providing specialist support to your child, there are many things you can do as a parent at home that will greatly help your child's development.

• Play with your child: Playing develops all of a child's abilities. Playing with things like play-dough develops fine motor skills. Running and jumping outdoors develops physical abilities as well as social skills.
• Read books with your child: The more your child hears words, the better their language skills will develop. Make it a habit to read a short story book before bed at night. Show them the pictures in the book and talk about them.
• Limit Screen Time (TV, Phone): Children learn best when they are interacting with others face-to-face, not while staring at a screen. It is very important to limit a child's screen time to no more than one hour per day.
• Establish a routine: Help your child get into the habit of following a routine. If you make a schedule with pictures and stick it on the wall, it will be easier for your child to understand what he or she needs to do next.
• Stay in touch with the doctor and therapists regularly: ask them how your child is doing, what else they can do at home, and discuss your questions and concerns with them.

It's normal to feel sad and worried when you learn that your child has a developmental delay. But it's not the end of the world. With the right support and treatment, your child can live a successful and happy life, just like any other child. What's most important is your love, care, and encouragement.