Spotting Developmental Delays: Key Milestones for Kids Under 5 – News18
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Every child grows differently, though, hence if delays are notable, extra assessment and treatment could be required
Before their child reaches five years old, parents and other caregivers are quite important in seeing changes in their development.
Developmental delay is the disorder whereby a child falls behind other children of the same age in one or more developmental milestones. These benchmarks might span skills in physical mobility, speaking, learning, social interaction, emotional control, and physical ability. Every child grows differently, though, hence if delays are notable, extra assessment and treatment could be required. Before their child reaches five years old, parents and other caregivers are quite important in seeing changes in their development. Dr Sonam Kothari, Pediatric neurologist and founder, Butterfly Learning shares all you need to know:
What Are Developmental Milestones?
Developmental milestones are useful indicators to help determine the level of a child’s development in different areas. These include:
❖ Physical milestones: Rolling over, sitting up, walking, and fine motor skills, including using a spoon or drawing.
❖ Speech and language milestones: First words, the ability to follow simple directions and the ability to participate in conversations.
❖ Social and emotional milestones: Interacting with others, expressing feelings and adapting to changes in the routine.
❖ Cognitive milestones: Problem solving skills, knowledge of cause and effect, and learning through exploration.
Key Areas of Development to Monitor
Motor Skills: First things parents observe are physical milestones related to motor skills. Children are expected to reach several physical milestones between the birth and five years of age including head lifting, rolling over, sitting, crawling, and walking. Two years of age children should be able to run and climb. Should your child struggle with rolling over, sitting without assistance, or walking by the predicted age, this could point to a need for pediatric consultation and evaluation.
Speech and Language Development: Social and cognitive development of children depends much on their language ability. Children pronounce their first word at 12 months, and by two years they combine two to three words. Developmental delay might show up as a delay in speech or language ability. A speech or language delay is deemed which requires more assessment if a kid does not babble by six months, does not say his or her first word by one year, or finds difficulty following simple directions.
Social and Emotional Development: Social and cognitive development of children depends much on their language ability. Children pronounce their first word at 12 months, and by two years they combine two to three words. Developmental delay might show up as a delay in speech or language ability. A speech or language delay is deemed which require more assessment if a kid does not babble by six months, does not say his or her first word by one year, or finds difficulty following simple directions.
Why Early Intervention is Crucial?
Recognizing developmental delays early on can help to deliver the best possible results. Early therapies such as speech therapy, physical therapy, or behavioral therapy can help youngsters in “closing the development gap,” with their peers, and acquire the skills needed to lead a quality life.
