Developmental Delays? First Steps...

Are you worried or have observed that your child is behind on some developmental milestones as per his/her age?

Do try not to be over sensitive as every child takes its own time to grow, and as parent sometimes we just indulge in a lot of comparisons with the other kids we see in the play area.

Relax. Try to analyze few things.

Social Communication

• Limited use of gestures such as giving, showing, waving, clapping, pointing, or nodding their head

• Delayed speech or no social babbling/chatting

• Makes odd sounds or has an unusual tone of voice

• Difficulty using eye contact, gestures, and sounds or words all at the same time

• Little or no pretending or imitating of other people

• Stopped using words that they used to say

• Uses another person’s hand as a tool (e.g., putting parent’s hand on a jar for them to open the lid)

Social Interaction

• Does not look right at people or hard to get them to look at you

• Does not share warm, joyful expressions

• Does not respond when someone calls their name

• Does not draw your attention to things or show you things they’re interested in

• Does not share enjoyment or interests with others

Repetitive Behaviors & Restricted Interests

• Unusual ways of moving their hands, fingers, or whole body.

• Running rigorously, hand flapping, fears – trees, dark

• Disturbed sleep, persistent gut issues

• Develops rituals such as lining objects up or repeating things over and over

• Very focused on or attached to unusual kinds of objects such as strips of cloth, wooden spoons, rocks, vents, or doorstops

• Excessive interest in particular objects, actions, or activities that interferes with social interaction, like – rotating wheels, fans, colored lines or patterns

• Unusual sensory interests such as sniffing objects or looking out of the corner of their eye

• Over- or under-reaction to certain sounds, textures, or other sensory input

Are most of the above seen in your child often?

What’s Next?

Find a good Developmental Pediatrician.

In Pune, I can surely recommend for Dr. Archana Kadam. She sits in Jehangir Hospital near Ruby Hall Clinic, KEM Hospital (Camp) and her personal clinic near Deccan Gymkhana.

In general, doctors do not go for early age medications but do start with supplements and also suggest some food restrictions when gut issues like, indigestion, constipation, etc. exists. Also you may get advised to cut down on sugar if your child is hyperactive.

Begin with.

Collect yourself, and do not panic. DO NOT start watching hundreds of videos on the internet about Autism cases. Every child is unique and yours’s will have his/her own strengths.

It’s a gift of nature, that we need to nurture. Be your child’s strength rather than a disability.

STOP using words like – He has a PROBLEM, WHY us, and any negativity around your child.

Remember – He/She is listening to everything and you don’t want to give any indications that there is anything wrong with them.

START a Good Diet.

You can surely begin with only good and healthy food for your child even before visiting the doctor. Cutting down on animal milk and sugar, bakery, and junk food (like chips, biscuits, ice cream, chocolates, packed juices, frozen foods, etc. will help a lot.

Read on Following.

Some of the therapies that you may need (as advised by the doctor). I will share my experience and importance with these in my posts to come.

1. Play Therapy

2. Speech Therapy

3. Occupational Therapy

4. ABA/VBA

5. Music Therapy

6. Art Therapy

Other things that are not much popular but have helped me immensely are

1. Sound Healing

2. Yoga Therapy

In posts to come, I will cover specific issues with different age groups and how different techniques, and therapies may help in making a difference.

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