Parents, especially in Pakistan and generally around the world, often worry about their toddlers talking and walking late than a normal observed time period in other children. Speed of development can vary among children, but certain signs warning towards a potential abnormality must not be ignored. This eventually means a medical evaluation for such children as soon as possible.
Meaning of developmental delay in toddlers:
The usual age of identification of developmental delay among toddlers is between 1 to 3 years. This time period is considered favorable when developmental aspects become more noticeable.
Developmental delay means age-appropriate milestones are not achieved in the expected years of development. This can be a potential sign of abnormality in thinking, motor skills, speech and language and overall emotional and mental development.
Late talking; a concern or a norm?
Late talking as a sign of developmental delay is the first one to get noticed. It is when the toddlers are experiencing continuous language problems and developmental difficulties on a broader scale. This has nothing to do with a bilingual or multilingual environment in a home.
Red flags must to watch
Instead of considering it a usual pattern, here are some of the signs that must be considered by the parents to immediately seek medical and psychological evaluation.
The foremost importance lies in the “regression”, which means that a toddler or a child is losing skills he or she previously had. Delays in multi developmental areas or in communication skills also require immediate attention.
Age wise developmental concerns from 1 to 3 years
At 12 months
Unresponsive to name calling, no gestures and no skill presentation
At 18 months
Conversing through a very few words, not walking independently.
At 24 months
Difficulty in following or listening to simple instructions, no usage of two-word phrases
At 36 months
Gibberish speech and limited to no social interaction
Regression in toddlers:
This is another serious red flag in the development of toddlers, which indicates loss of already acquired skills and signals towards serious problems. It could be some internal medical condition such as developmental or neurobiological one and requires timely assistance.
Developmental delays or Autism; how parents can differentiate:
While developmental delays mean a child is lagging behind in the expected milestones, autism is something different than the developmental delays. It involves sepcific differences in behavioral and communication skills. Children could have both of them, therefore careful screening is very important.
Why evaluation before the age of 3 carries importance?
Intervention for the developmental delays before the age of 3 is important to make sure a healthy growth in learning and social outcomes for a child. The first three years of a child are critical as per their brain development. Coaching and therapy can work wonders in the improvement of learning, language and other outcomes.
Practical advice for Pakistani parents:
Consulting a pediatrician or a developmental specialist in case of the above-mentioned red flags is not a shame, but a necessity for your child’s healthy growth.
Key takeaway
Recognition of early signs in development delays can help parents and families to act before it’s too late. Not every delay is a problem, but persistency in them with continuous distressing patterns can never be ignored. To make kids reach their full potential, early support is inevitable.
