Toddler Worries: Dealing with Developmental Delays

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    Marissa Ackerman and Jacob : Developmental Delays

     

    My son is about to turn two years old. The thought of that literally brings tears to my eyes as he is my only child and the years truly have gone by so fast. I know that every mother before me has told me the same thing, “they grow up so fast” and “enjoy it, the time flies by in a blink of an eye,” but until you are actually living it, you don’t really realize that what they are saying is so right.

    What do you do, though, when you notice developmental delays?

    I began noticing small signs throughout his first year. Noticeable delays included an inability to sit up {until over six months}, an unwillingness to crawl {until a year old}, and an inability to engage and hold eye contact.

    I am a first-time mom, so all of these little instances were so new for me and I really did not know for sure if it was something to worry about…until I started asking all the right questions. 

    Most of my worries really came to fruition after he turned a year old.

    My son’s pediatrician had assured me that development is different for every child and that even though there are milestones to reach, each child reaches them at their own pace. In fact, boys tend to develop at a slower rate than girls, according to many researchers, including those that sit on the Babycenter Medical Advisory Board.

    So, my worries, although addressed, were put aside for the time being as I was reassured he would eventually catch up.

    The months passed—13 months then 14 months, and so on, until we hit the 18-month checkup. My son was still not walking, talking, and he was still having trouble with socialization and eye contact.

    This is when the pediatrician showed concern.

    Most children, around 18 month or so, have at least met one of two milestones: walking or talking.

    {Even if it is just a few words or phrases, or a couple of steps.}

    Not my son.

    He was cruising around and would stand with assistance from furniture or other sturdier objects, but he refused to take the steps, and the only word we had ever heard from him was “dada,” which altogether stopped for a few months.

    Dr.McGhee, our son’s pediatrician, decided that it would be best for my son to be evaluated by a speech therapist. Her concern was mostly with the talking aspect as she said it does, at times, take toddlers longer to learn how to walk, especially if there are developmental delays in other areas.

    Steps we are taking for Developmental Delays:

    Speech Therapy

    Jacob, my son, began speech therapy at 18 months, and continues it through the ECI program here in the Coastal Bend. The therapy has been key as he still babbles and makes plenty of sounds, but cannot seem to form words. So far, not much has changed in the word formation after several months, but we grow more confident that it will as he becomes even more vocal with his sounds. 

    Occupational Therapy

    At 22 months, we noticed that Jacob favored his left side. Literally, in everything! From the way he holds objects, how he plays, and even while eating (he uses only his left side of his mouth, which does not help with low muscle tone). The occupational therapy has been applied to help him with these issues, as well as build on his other therapies. 

    Physical Therapy

    This one is my favorite, because my son’s lack of walking is my biggest anxiety. As his second birthday draws near, I worry the most about his ability to ever be able to walk, let alone run into my arms. His therapist has been helpful in giving us tips to help him feel more confident in his body. Red flags have come up to also indicate that he may have some sensory issues, which means he is less aware of his body, which we plan to address with more therapy. 

    All in all, my son is globally delayed, and it really worries me.

    As a first-time mom, you never imagine all of the things that could possibly go wrong with your child. But, as reality sets in, you realize that there are things that happen beyond your control.

    Jacob may have many delays, and may in fact have other issues that have yet to be discovered, but as time goes by and the more assistance we give him, I am confident he will hit all his milestones.

    If you are a mother with similar concerns for your child, know that you are not alone. Do your research, use the programs we have available to us, learn all you can, and connect with other parents. Feel free to find me on our Facebook page and community groups…we are all in this together, mamas!

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