Child Development Guide: Stages & Early Intervention

Child Development

Child development is the development of a child from the time they are born to when they turn into an adolescent. The development refers to mental, physical, emotional and psychological changes that occur to a child as they grow. Development is a continuous phase that varies from child to child. Early support for child development goes a long way in the child having a long term healthy life. Professional guidance, when it comes to development, can also help strengthen your child's abilities in the long run. 

Stages of Child Development

Early Childhood

This is the earliest phase of child development and it takes place during infancy and pre-school years. This is when the child’s mind is at its most rapid growth point and includes focus on speech development, motor skills, emotional bonding and basic social interaction. This stage sets the groundwork for all future developments. 

Middle Childhood

This stage is when issues are often identified, and it is during school-age years. At this stage peer connections, learning, attention and problem-solving become important. Learning difficulties and behavioral issues are noticeable at this stage. 

Late Childhood and Adolescence

At this stage mental and emotional health become significant. This stage develops emotional maturity, identity formation, independence and hormonal changes. Adolescence brings forth concerns in emotional and behavioral phases, and it's important to seek professional help if needed. 

When and Why Children May Need Developmental Intervention

It is important to be aware of your child’s development, and it is equally important to not panic instantly if you find something out of the ordinary. Common signs of delayed development include, delayed speech, difficulty focusing, behavioral issues, poor social interaction and issues with daily activities. 

If you do notice any of the signs written above, it is important to consult a healthcare professional, as they will be able to guide you on the next steps. By doing so, doctors will be able to catch on to issues early, therefore helping to prevent potential issues in the future. By identifying the issue early, children can go through early therapy which can help improve their learning, communication, independence and emotional well-being. 

Why Developmental Assessment Is Important

When it comes to assessing a child's development, it is not only about finding what’s wrong but rather also learning about the child's strength and what they do well. This strength-based approach is a positive mindset to have when assessing your child’s development. Early identification can also help prevent future long-term disabilities, whether emotional, educational or physical. Assessment results can also lead doctors to tailoring a therapy plan based on the child's needs. This can also lead to children gaining confidence, as they are treated early and provided with care for their exact needs. 

Comprehensive Support at the Child Development Unit at Vibhavadi Hospital

At Vibhavadi Hospital, there’s a child development unit that provides comprehensive support for each child's needs. Each child is provided with care for all aspects of development rather than focusing on one issue. Additionally, parents and caregivers are also involved in the therapy and development of their child, thus allowing parents to feel confident and safe. 

Conditions Screened and Diagnosed by the Child Development Unit

Developmental and Neurological Conditions

These issues include delayed speech, this is when a child has problems understanding and using language at their certain age. Early identification can help improve their communication skills. Autism is another issue, this is a neurodevelopment condition that affects communication, social interaction and behavior. Early detection of autism goes a long way and can help with therapy, enhancement of learning skills and social engagement. Cerebral palsy is when a group of conditions together affect movement, muscle tone and posture. This is often caused by early brain development issues, with ongoing therapy a child's mobility, coordination and daily functioning can improve. Another issue is genetic disease known as down syndrome, and it causes intellectual disability and physical development delays. Early involvement with therapy can help with cognitive development, communication and life skills.
 

Physical and Sensory Challenges

Issues with muscles like muscle strength, coordination or endurance, especially things that may impact everyday issues. Additionally other diagnosis may include visual and auditory issues, this is when a child's hearing or vision is affected causing them to have difficulties. These difficulties include, communication, learning and social interaction. Early detection of these issues can help with proper treatment and long term care. 

Learning and Behavioral Concerns

Learning and behavioral concerns include, ADD or Attention deficit disorder, this is when a child has issues focusing and organizing tasks. ADD can also interfere with a child's academic performance and daily activity. Another behavioral concern is learning and writing difficulties, these include challenges that may affect a child's school performance. Specialized assessments can help create individual learning strategies for the student. Bedwetting and excretion difficulties are other issues that children may face. These issues could affect a child's self-confidence and emotional health, hence the importance of early detection and therapy.

Behavioral and Social Issues

Behavioral issues and social issues include, game addiction which interferes with academic and social responsibilities. Aggressiveness, disobedience and delinquency, which can affect family relations and make it hard for a child to adjust in school. Other social issues include challenges with social skills, making it hard for kids to make friends, ultimately causing children to develop social interaction issues. If detected early, therapy can help children in the long term.

Emotional and Adolescent-Specific Concerns

Emotional and adolescent concerns include bipolar disorder, this is when an individual's mood is affected and has extreme highs and lows. This can affect behavior, relationships and academic performance. Other issues include substance use, this is when an individual gets addicted to a substance during adolescence, this may impact physical and emotional health. Eating disorders are another issue that individuals may go through, these include anorexia and bulimia. These eating disorders are unhealthy and involve distorted body image issues, early detection is important to prevent larger issues. 

Special Considerations

These are when children have special considerations like giftedness, genius, and it is when a child has exceptional cognitive skills. This may require special educational guidance and emotional support to ensure a proper development.

Specialized Facilities and Services

There are child friendly units that allow children to have a comfortable place to improve their speech skills. Additionally parents can also give their children IQ tests in order to further learn about their chills educational wellbeing. The area around the facility is welcoming for children so they don't feel anxious and are in a comfortable zone.