Treatment for Developmental Delays
in Massapequa & East Northport, NY
Does your child seem to struggle with skills more than their siblings or other children their age do? They may be experiencing a developmental delay. While that might sound alarming, rest assured that developmental delays are common, and our experts at Sensational Development have the solution. Keep reading to learn what a developmental delay is and how our pediatric therapists can help children, teens, and young adults achieve their developmental skills with fun and proven therapy techniques.
What Are Developmental Skills?
Developmental skills, also called developmental milestones, are the building blocks that lay the foundation for a child’s overall growth and independence. Based on many decades of research, healthcare professionals have found that there are certain skills that every child will achieve, such as grasping objects or lifting their head. They have also found that most children achieve these skills around the same age. For example, most babies will start crawling between 7-10 months old.
Some key developmental skill areas include:
Gross Motor Skills – coordination of large muscle groups for activities like walking, running, and jumping.
Fine Motor Skills – precise control of smaller muscles for tasks such as writing, tying shoelaces, and using utensils.
Cognitive Skills – mental processes like problem-solving, memory, and learning.
Social and Emotional Skills – interacting with others, expressing emotions, and forming relationships.
What Is a Developmental Delay?
A developmental delay occurs when a child does not reach their developmental milestones within the expected timeframe. Continuing the example from above, if most babies start crawling between 7-10 months, a baby who is 12 months old and still not crawling may have a developmental delay. When this happens, early intervention is crucial because delays can impact a child’s overall growth, independence, and wellbeing.
What Is a Developmental Delay?
A developmental delay occurs when a child does not reach their developmental milestones within the expected timeframe. Continuing the example from above, if most babies start crawling between 7-10 months, a baby who is 12 months old and still not crawling may have a developmental delay. When this happens, early intervention is crucial because delays can impact a child’s overall growth, independence, and wellbeing.
Signs of a Developmental Delay
The biggest sign of a developmental delay is simply that a child hasn’t reached a milestone they should have for their age. Other common signs include:
- Difficulty with coordination and balance
- Struggles with writing or drawing
- Trouble speaking clearly
- Difficulty making friends with others
- Struggles with focus, memory, and problem-solving
- Trouble understanding others
How Pediatric Therapy Treats Developmental Delays
At Sensational Development, our skilled pediatric therapists conduct thorough evaluations to determine if a child is experiencing a developmental delay. We tailor our approach to meet each child’s unique needs, combining occupational therapy and sensory integration therapy as needed to ensure your child gets the right support to reach their developmental milestones.
Early intervention is important as it will help your child gain the skills they are struggling to achieve on their own, which can help them do better in school, make new friends, and participate in daily activities at home. Despite this, it’s never too late to help your child become sensational, which is why we offer our services to children, teens, and young adults in Massapequa and East Northport, NY.
Schedule an Appointment Today
If you’re worried that your child may have a developmental delay, we can help. Call Sensational Development at (516) 799-2900 to schedule an evaluation today. Together, we can support your child’s development so they can lead a sensational life.
