Our very own Dr. Jennifer Yee dives into this topic that impacts parents, children and families:

What is a developmental delay?

A developmental delay is when a child is slower to reach one or more developmental milestones compared to their peers. Some examples of developmental milestones in children include:

-Expressing certain facial expressions for the first time (e.g. smiling)

-Non-verbal communication (e.g. waving goodbye)

-Rolling over

-Crawling

-Pulling themselves up to standing position

-Taking a first step

-Speaking a first word

-Forming more complex sentences

-Learning and communicating more complex ideas

Developmental Delays can fall into different categories and they may affect only one area of development or delays can occur in significantly in several developmental areas (referred to as global developmental delay). These areas of development include:

-Motor skills: these include both fine (smaller) and gross (larger) muscle movements. A child with a fine motor delay may have challenges holding an object which can result in difficulty colouring and writing. A child with a gross motor delay may have challenges with larger movements like rolling over, sitting up, and walking

-Speech & language skills: includes both using language (speaking and also non-verbal communication)  and also the ability to understand what others are saying to them

-Cognitive skills: these include thinking, learning, understanding information, following directions and problem-solving

-Social & emotional skills: these include the ability to communicate needs, express feelings and emotions (verbally or non-verbally) and our ability to interact with and get along with others. A child may have difficulty understanding social cues and interacting with their peers, have challenges expressing when and why they are upset or struggle with adapting to changes in routine

It is important to remember that children reach these developmental milestone at different rates and there is no timetable that every child must strictly adhere to. A child may development more quickly in certain ways and a bit more slowly in others. If a child is slower to reach a certain milestone, it does not necessarily mean they have a developmental delay. If a child is continually behind compared to their peers, then assessing for developmental delay is recommended. Most developmental delays will resolve on their own over time or with minimal interventions. Early diagnosis and intervention can result in progress being made more readily.

How common are developmental delays?

In Canada, developmental delays are estimated to affect 10-15% of preschool-aged children. Global developmental delays (significant delays in more than one area) are less common, occurring in 1-3% of preschool-aged children. The majority of developmental delays are of unknown cause but some can be the result of genetic factors (e.g. Down syndrome, fragile X syndrome). Environmental factors can also lead to increased risk of developmental delays including toxin exposure before birth (e.g. alcohol, opioids), toxin exposure after birth (e.g. lead, mould), premature birth, low birth weight, reduced oxygen at birth, malnutrition, health conditions (hearing and vision impairment), and severe trauma (accidental injury, child abuse, child neglect).

How are developmental delays assessed and diagnosed?

Developmental delays are typically identified during routine checks by a medical professional (e.g. pediatrician, naturopathic doctor, etc.) or when a parent or teacher raises concerns. Assessment for developmental delay can include comparison to growth and development charts, physical examinations, observation of the child (playing, speaking, moving, behaving), hearing and vision tests, blood tests, and information gathering from parents, guardians and teachers. Naturopathically, we may also wish to screen for food sensitivities, gut health, nutritional deficiencies, hormonal imbalances, or toxin exposure (e.g. lead, mould).

How are developmental delays managed & treated?

The assessments listed in the previous section, can help to identify if a developmental delay is present, to gauge the severity and also to investigate if there are specific causes contributing to a developmental delay (e.g. hearing loss, vision impairment, nutritional deficiency, genetic variation, lead toxicity, etc.) that can be treated or corrected. Specific stimulation exercises and activities may be recommended to encourage the development of certain skills. For example, a speech language pathologist may recommend specific exercises to strengthen the tongue and muscles that support the jaw and mouth. A physiotherapist may recommend specific exercises to improve coordination, strength, and mobility. 

As stated previously, most developmental delays will resolve on their own over time or with minimal interventions. Early diagnosis and intervention can result in progress being made more readily. The sooner a child can be assessed and diagnosed with a developmental delay, the sooner supports can be put in place for the betterment of a child’s health and wellbeing.