MONDAY, DAY 1
WEEK 11
CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS
The first babble, wobbly step, and “mama” make every parent swell with pride. For a pediatrician, however, these actions are all important milestones in a child’s mental and physical development. If a child is significantly behind his or her peers in a certain area—such as motor, language, social, or thinking skills—that’s called a developmental delay.
The developmental landmarks start as early as 1 month of age. For instance, by that time, an infant should move its head from side to side, clench its hands into tight fists, focus on objects at least a foot away, recognize sounds, and prefer sweet tastes. If the infant doesn’t blink near a bright light, rarely moves its arms and legs, feeds slowly, or doesn’t respond to loud sounds, that may be a sign of a developmental delay. Parents and pediatricians alike follow a baby’s progression closely during the first 3 years of life.
There’s no single cause of these delays. A wide variety of conditions, illnesses, and diseases may lead to slower-than-usual development. Some genetic causes, such as Down syndrome, or pregnancy or birth complications, such as infection or premature delivery, may be to blame. Other culprits, including hearing loss due to chronic ear infections or lead poisoning, may be curable. Experts encourage parents to consult their pediatricians if they suspect that their children may have a developmental delay; research shows that the earlier a delay is diagnosed and appropriate treatment is prescribed, the better the outcome later in life.