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Early Years (2-6)
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 Children develop at different rates. Often, a child quickly catches up to his or her peers. However, there are times when families need to take a closer look and see if further action should be taken to properly address an issue. I would have likely missed many of the early signs of developmental delay in a relative, had I not already been working in the field. When he was not pointing or imitating words by 12 months, he was taken in for an evaluation. He soon began receiving services through private insurance and later through the Regional Center Early Start program (more on this later). After receiving applied behavior analysis to remediate developmental deficits, my relative is now advancing through elementary school and testing within his age norms. Without the early intervention he received, the wonderful interactions with his cousins at our family reunion this past July might have been very different. What to look for By the age of 12 months, a child should be able to share something with you by pointing a finger, understanding “no,” and looking at what you are pointing at. He will turn to respond to his name. Children developing within “typical” parameters will be able to play simple games (peek-a-boo and pat-a-cake, for example), imitate gestures and movements, babble with changes in vocal pitch, try to imitate words and be able to use at least two different words.  By the end of the second year, a child should be able to follow simple instructions, engage in make-believe play, recognize the names of familiar objects and use simple phrases. A 4-year-old should be able to tell simple stories and ask and answer questions. In addition, his speech should be understandable by adults outside the family. When to be concerned Besides not meeting developmental milestones, there are behaviors that provide reason for concern. Social behaviors that can indicate deeper problems would be if your child regularly avoids being touched or if he avoids eye contact – also, if he spends a large amount of time doing solitary activities such as lining up or spinning objects rather than participating in back-and-forth social play. A loss of skills is another red flag. For example, if a child previously spoke several words, used gestures and gave eye contact in response to praise – but no longer does – take him to see a professional. If you notice these signs or aren’t sure, a visit to a developmental pediatrician, pediatric neurologist or pediatric diagnostic team is a good way to diagnose or rule out an autism spectrum disorder or other issues. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now estimates that one in 110 children have an autism spectrum disorder, so it is necessary for parents to be aware and meet with a professional if they are concerned. In my work with families, I have come across several instances in which a child’s pediatrician has assured the parents that the child would catch up to the developmental milestones, only to have the family seek services at a later time when it became obvious that the developmental delays were persisting or worsening without needed intervention. Early recognition with appropriate intervention can help set a developmentally delayed child on the right path of care sooner rather than later.  What can be done?If your child qualifies, early-intervention services are available to assist your child’s development with services coordinated by your local regional center. For more information about typical development, signs of developmental delay, service qualifications and contact information for your local center, visit the California Department of Developmental Services Early Start website at dds.ca.gov/earlystart. For those living in Orange County, the Regional Center of Orange County intake and assessment line is at 714.796.5354. School districts also provide services to address developmental delays in children. Early-intervention services can greatly improve a child’s developmental path. Applied behavior analysis (ABA) is a treatment approach that has been used to address skill deficits, increase the number of desired behaviors and decrease the number of undesired behaviors or behaviors that interfere with learning. In young children with developmental delays, these one-to-one behavior services are implemented to address delays in one or two developmental domains, or across many areas of delay. The training of parents and caregivers is considered a critical component to the success of a child. By working together from an early age, the life of a youngster with developmental delays may be greatly improved, and some children’s delays are completely resolved. Information in this article is general in nature and should not be used to diagnose or rule out any type of developmental delay. Please consult the appropriate professional with concerns about your child’s development. Christine Soriano is clinical director at Pacific Child and Family Associates. THESE AGENCIES CAN HELP > The Regional Center of Orange County is a nonprofit agency that is the first stop for kids with developmental disabilities and their families seeking local services. rcocdd.com > Help Me Grow connects kids and their families to services to enhance the behavior, learning and development of children from birth through 5 years. helpmegrowoc.org > For OC Kids Neurodevelopmental Center specializes in evaluation, diagnosis, treatment, support, education and advocacy for Orange County children from birth through age 5. The center addresses a wide range of developmental, behavioral and learning issues. forockids.org > Pure Pediatric Therapy provides advanced, specialized and nurturing therapeutic intervention and treatment designed to build a solid developmental foundation for continued growth and maturation. purepeds.com |
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