Recognize the Issue
We have all heard that each child develops at his or her own rate, so it can be difficult to know if your child is ‘meeting his milestones on time.’ Parents often come to us after they become frustrated with hearing contradictory advice and diagnoses. A parent concerned about their child’s development will typically have heard everything from “he’ll grow out of it” to some upsetting ‘armchair’ diagnoses. Even physicians may not recognize a developmental delay (imagine having only fifteen-minutes to do a full physical exam and assess a child’s development at the same time!). If you are concerned that your child is not making progress towards his ‘milestones’ within the expected timeframe, it is time to consult a psychologist. Contact us today to schedule a consultation at our Northern Virginia office.
A developmental delay means that the child is either progressing slowly, or that his development has stalled in a given area (e.g. speech, learning).
A typical development may be slower than expected, but also has an unexpected aspect to it (e.g. a child who learns to speak on-time, but only recites ‘scripts’ from his favorite television program).
Understand the Possible Causes
It is important to understand how the child’s development is progressing, and how it is impacting both the child and family. Many parents receive the incorrect advice that a delay will resolve itself. While this is possible for some children, most children with developmental delays will need help to catch up to their peers. Developmental delays may be related to:
- Speech and Language delays
- Autism Spectrum Disorders
- Auditory Processing Disorders
- Intellectual Disability
Support Services: What do you do?
The child who begins his academic career without age-appropriate ability to speak, listen, learn, and socialize can face years of underachievement. It is essential for children who have developmental delays to receive support as soon as possible, preferably before beginning elementary school. Children who do not get evidence-based treatments from qualified therapists can fall far behind their peers. It is essential to understand a child’s developmental course using objective assessments as is done during a psychological evaluation. Therapy may help your child develop the skills he is struggling to master.
Mindwell Psychology can provide on-site consultation to your child’s school if needed.
- Developmental Testing for children 5 and under
- PsychoEducational/Neuropsychological Testing for individuals 6 and over
- Comprehensive Testing
- Therapy Services
- On-Site School Consultation and Advocacy
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