In the early years, you’re watching your child for all the expected milestones — like crawling, walking and first words. Whether you are aware or not, your child is demonstrating developmental milestones from the moment they are born.
But what happens when your child misses a milestone, or when they’re experiencing what experts call a “developmental delay?”
At many well visits, your child’s pediatrician will do a screening to make sure your child’s development is progressing. But it never hurts to know what these milestones are, says Nancy Kaufman, Speech-Language Pathologist and Director of Kaufman Children’s Center in West Bloomfield.
You are the expert in your child, so share what you know
You know your child best and your observations of your child’s motor skills and language development are important to building a complete picture of your child’s health and well-being.
You can start by having open conversations with your child’s doctor. If you are noticing that milestones are not being met, it’s important to address this in the examination room.
“The first thing to do is certainly ask the pediatrician at well visits what their opinion is about your child’s development,” Kaufman says. A difficult birth, lack of oxygen at birth and missed or delayed gross motor milestones are just some of the child’s history that should also be taken into consideration.
Not all signs will be immediately apparent to the doctor. “Some early autism characteristics may not be seen in a well visit. We, as parents, have to be the ones to ask the questions,” Kaufman says.
Why is your child’s speech and language development important?
Speech and language are important indicators of your child’s early development. Many developmental delays surface when a parent or other family member notices that a child is not speaking at the appropriate age. This can often be an “a ha” moment for parents as they then recognize that previous milestones related to speech — like babbling and other vocalizations and early sucking and swallowing behaviors – were missing or delayed or appear to be a struggle for the child.
As an expert in childhood apraxia of speech (CAS), Kaufman pioneered the Kaufman Speech to Language Protocol (K-SLP) method. She trains speech-language pathologists in this method internationally — and knows the value of tracking milestones and getting help early for the best outcomes.
An early diagnosis can lead to early intervention
Whether a child is experiencing delayed speech, has a delay in learning to walk or is showing signs of autism, it’s important to get an assessment quickly. Your child’s pediatrician is your first point of contact.
“We know that pediatricians realize that early intervention is important and they will refer families to other professionals, such as a speech and language pathologist,” Kaufman says, adding that speech and language pathologists, because they work closely with occupational therapists and applied behavior analysts, can have more in-depth awareness of other developmental delays, picking up on the more subtle signs.
Why is early intervention important?
The earlier a child is evaluated, the earlier they can begin therapy, which can lead to more positive long-term outcomes for the child.
“We know about neuroplasticity. We learned that we can shape the brain if we provide it with enough input on very specific goals and targets,” Kaufman explains. “The brain can then generalize new skills.” At Kaufman Children’s Center, therapeutic experts know how to set goals for optimal responses, manage behavior and motivate children so they have the desire to participate in their speech, language or other therapy — for future success in school and in life.
What’s the best-case scenario for your child?
If you’re worried about your child’s development, or if your child’s day care providers, teachers or other family members point out their concerns, be sure to prioritize a follow up with your child’s doctor, even though it may be difficult and cause you worry.
What you see in your child could be significant — or it could simply be age-appropriate behavior. Either way, you want to know the truth, so it’s best to take action. Knowledge is power.
“I’ve been in practice for 43 years and have run into children I treated when they were 2, 3, 4 years old and are now adults. I have gotten to see how well these young adults have been able to progress,” Kaufman says. “When they were little, they had many struggles with language development and social interaction and now they are such incredible individuals. It gives me great pleasure to realize we played a part in their success.”
Research outlined in The American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology recently confirmed the effectiveness of the K-SLP method for childhood apraxia of speech. Learn more about Kaufman Children’s Center at kidspeech.com.