Every parent wants their child to be smart and clever, but not every child grows up smoothly. Statistics in 2017 showed that there were approximately 3,600 new cases of developmental delay in Hong Kong, and the number increased to 4,500 in 2019. According to the statistics of Child Assessment Service, there were a total of 9,800 referred cases in 2019, 30% of which were cases of developmental delay. These figures prove that more and more children show signs of developmental delay.

How do we define developmental delay in children?

Children go through a series of cognitive, language, physical, behavioural, and social development at different ages and growth stages, with a specific order of progression.

However, when children have developmental delays, they may encounter problems in areas such as perception, movement, cognition, language, or social skills. The delay may be limited to specific areas, such as pronunciation problems, poor finger coordination or weak muscle endurance, or it may involve multiple areas.

What causes developmental delay in children?

Congenital factors: Chromosomal abnormalities, premature birth, and maternal smoking, alcohol consumption or drug use during pregnancy are all likely to affect child intelligence and lead to developmental delay.

Acquired factors: These involve the child's growing environment and parental upbringing, such as insufficient nutrition, child abuse, and parents neglecting children's needs. These factors can affect a child's emotional and physical development.

Simple Indicators to assess whether your child has developmental delay

At 6 months old:

-Unable to keep the head stable

-Unable to reach out and grab objects

At 1 year old:

-Unable to stand while holding onto furniture

-Unable to pick up small objects with the thumb and index finger

At 1 and a half years old:

-Unable to walk on their own

At 2 years old:

-Unable to say single words such as "daddy," "mommy," "car," and "street"

-Unable to follow simple instructions such as "give it to mommy"

At 2 and a half years old:

-Unable to scribble with a pen on paper

-Unable to combine words such as "eat cake" and "drink orange juice"

At 3 years old or above:

-Unable to say simple sentences such as "I eat cake”

-Unable to match basic colours and shapes

-Fall behind in academic progress

-Show behavioural problems

Developmental delay is not a disease and cannot be treated with medication. So, identifying and arranging treatment early is very important in promoting children's development and preventing further developmental delay! If your child shows the above signs, you should first seek help from a paediatrician or psychologist. They will use appropriate tools, such as the Ages and Stages Questionnaires (ASQ), to assess the child’s development.

Primecare Paediatric Wellness Centre

Child development assessment and treatment

Primecare Paediatric Wellness Centre provides infant and child development assessment and treatment services, including ADHD assessment, IQ tests, dyslexia treatment, behavioural therapy, speech therapy, and more, to ensure healthy growth for children at every stage.

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