Child development is a vital component of caregiving. Caregivers are constantly making sure the child is meeting various milestones and growing in all areas of life. What happens when a caregiver has questions about specific developmental stages and possible concerns the child may not be meeting the developmental stages? March is Developmental Delay Awareness month, and it is important to empower caregivers with resources if they have concerns about specific developmental milestones.
First and foremost, it is important for caregivers to speak up if they notice concerns. This might look like delayed speech, motor development, or a lack of specific fine motor skills. Having a conversation with your pediatrician can be a great starting point. Pediatricians can reassure caregivers that the developmental milestones are within normal range or provide advice if additional testing needs to be completed. Asking for help empowers both the child and the caregiver. Also, it allows support and interventions to be implemented quickly if needed. Starting the conversation takes courage and emphasizes you want the child to get the support they might need.
If a professional recommends more testing, the child will likely be given assessments in speech, fine and gross motor, cognitive and social skills, and adaptative skills. A comprehensive evaluation allows professionals to develop a comprehensive support plan. An evaluation can be a starting point to track growth and improvement as the child receives support.
After a professional evaluation, a developmental delay diagnosis may be given. A child may be delayed in one area but not all of them. A developmental delay is defined as a delay in 1 or more areas of development. A diagnosis helps ensure the child receives adequate support and makes progress in meeting developmental milestones. A diagnosis may also come with grief for the caregiver. It can be a lot to process, and you do not have to do this alone. There is support available for both the caregiver and the child. Again, seeking out an evaluation takes courage.
Once a diagnosis has been given, the child may receive support from Early Intervention Services (TEIS) or the local school system. In Tennessee, children between the ages of zero and three receive support through TEIS. Once a child turns three, support can be transferred to the local school system or extended through TEIS until age five. The team of professionals that are supporting your child may be able to give input on the best environment for the child to receive support. Support may look like working with several different professionals to receive various types of therapies. Each therapy is designed to help support the child individually with specific delays that may be present. Early Intervention may take place in the community or the family’s home.
Early intervention has been shown to help produce significant improvements in developmental delays that may be present. When a child receives an intervention early, it can help promote positive outcomes and help the child continue to grow in various areas. You do not have to wait to get support for both you and your child. If you don’t know where to start or need help along the way, feel free to reach out to us. We would be more than happy to help give you resources and information for your family. As a caregiver, you know your child the best. If you sense something may be atypical, always speak up. Support starts by taking the first step of asking for help.