Delayed speech

Typically, infants begin babbling between 9 and 12 months, and speak a few single words by 15 to 18 months. If a child aged 18 to 24 months has not started talking, parents should consult a doctor for early assessment and intervention. Children aged 24 to 31 months with speech delays are at risk of having poorer vocabulary and language memory compared to their peers as they grow older.

Signs of delayed communication

Parents should observe signs such as limited eye contact, lack of social smiles, and poor joint attention in children. If these behaviors are present, especially in children under 2 years old, parents should consider autism screening. Early detection of autism spectrum disorder is crucial to ensure the child's optimal development and learning in the future.

Delayed motor development, poor coordination

Parents should be vigilant if their child experiences difficulties with gross motor skills (sitting, crawling, walking) or fine motor skills (grasping, using a spoon). If both skill sets are developing slowly, it is advisable to seek medical evaluation and timely intervention, including physical therapy if necessary, to prevent impacts on physical development.

Poor memory

Children with delayed brain development often struggle to follow simple instructions from adults, have poor information recall (for example, remembering two- or three-step tasks), exhibit impulsivity, and difficulty calming themselves. If these issues with attention and self-control affect learning, parents should seek a medical evaluation for their child.

Feeling sad or depressed

If a child frequently feels sad without a clear reason, it could indicate depression or other mental health conditions. They often experience fatigue and find it difficult to perform daily activities.

Delayed teething

Typically, children with rickets often experience delayed eruption of primary teeth. Deficiencies in essential nutrients like calcium and vitamin D, genetic issues, premature birth, and thyroid disease are common causes of delayed teething. Malnourished children also often fail to reach desired height and weight for their age, affecting bone mineralization. Parents should seek medical consultation for their child, ensure proper nutritional supplementation, and promote a diverse and balanced diet.

Parents should encourage physical activity, ensure deep sleep for growth hormone production, create a healthy living environment, limit electronic device use, and ensure daily sun exposure. Deep sleep aids the brain in secreting growth hormone (GH) and helps the body absorb calcium.

Le Nguyen (According to Times of India)