Developmental Delay Specialist

What are developmental delays?

Children grow and develop at different paces, but some develop much slower than others. That means they may not hit developmental milestones, including motor, speech, language, and social skills, as quickly as their peers. 

If you notice your child is falling behind with their growth and development, schedule an evaluation with Complete Neurological Care. 

What are the symptoms of developmental delays in children?

Signs and symptoms your child may have a developmental delay include:

• Acting immature
• Crawling, walking, and sitting up slower than peers
• Delays in speech, talking, and other forms of communication
• Difficulty in social situations
• Lower than average IQ scores
• Difficulty remembering things
• Problems learning at school
• Difficulty with problem-solving
• Problems connecting actions with consequences
• Inability to complete simple everyday tasks

Identifying and treating underlying medical conditions can sometimes eliminate signs of developmental delays over time.

What causes developmental delays?

Common causes of developmental delays include:

• Phenylketonuria (PKU)
• Other metabolic disorders
• Down syndrome or other hereditary conditions
• Brain trauma
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Other types of psychosocial trauma
• Serious infections
• Toxic substance exposure
• Prenatal alcohol exposure
• Lead poisoning 
• Malnutrition

The cause of developmental delays isn’t always known, but your provider at Complete Neurological Care does their best to find it. Either way, they offer treatments that help your child thrive in their environment and overcome obstacles. 

How does my doctor diagnose developmental delays?

To find out if your child has a developmental delay, their Complete Neurological Care provider reviews their medical history, completes a physical exam, and asks questions about their developmental milestones. They complete specialized assessments that can detect delays.

To detect or rule out underlying medical problems, your child’s specialist may recommend blood tests, neurological tests, imaging procedures, or other diagnostic tests to make a diagnosis and develop an effective treatment. 

What are common treatments for developmental delays?

While there’s no cure for developmental delays, your provider may recommend one of the following treatments to help your child meet milestones:

• Occupational therapy
• Physical therapy
• Speech and language therapy
• Behavioral therapy
• IV therapy
• Early childhood special education

Getting your child the therapy they need at school can drastically help improve their quality of life. It may also help them catch up developmentally to their peers.

If you suspect your child has a developmental delay, call the Complete Neurological Care office nearest you or schedule an appointment online today.