What is a developmental delay?
Children with developmental delays develop more slowly than other children. They achieve motor milestones later than average, e.g. rolling over, sitting, standing, crawling, walking or talking happens later than children of the same age.
Psychomotor retardation
The medical word for developmental delay is retardation. When children are only behind in terms of movement or motor skills, this is called motor retardation. When, in addition, other areas of development (speech-language, play development, psycho-social) are also slower, this is called psychomotor retardation.
Mental disability
Some of the children with psychomotor retardation also have intellectual disabilities. Officially, intellectual disability is spoken of only when the total IQ is below 70. Children with an IQ of between 50 and 70 are referred to as having a mild intellectual disability. In young children, IQ cannot yet be reliably determined. So it may be that a child has delayed development, but eventually has an IQ higher than 70. In that case, therefore, the term intellectual disability is officially no longer used. In short, not all children with a developmental delay also have a mental disability.
What are the characteristics of developmental delay?
There is great variation among children with developmental delays. Some children have only some of the symptoms listed below, while others have all the symptoms. The severity of symptoms can also vary from child to child. There may be problems with: - Moving: Children reach (motor) milestones (such as rolling over, sitting, walking) later than average, or early motor and/or later motor development is delayed. In addition, there may be lumbering, non-fluent motor skills. Children may fall and trip frequently. Children with developmental delays may also have problems with fine motor skills such as colouring, toes, writing, cutting and other fine motor skills.
- Comprehension, talking (speech language development), problems with seeing and hearing
- Social-emotional problems, behavioural problems
- Learning problems
- Feeding problems: difficulty eating and drinking
- Sickness problems
- Epilepsy
- Typical appearance
- Abnormalities of other organs
Paediatric physiotherapy
We can map, assess and, if necessary, treat overall motor development by drawing up treatment goals and a treatment plan in consultation with parents, the child and the environment.