Signs of slow development in children

Slow to speak

Normally, children at 9-12 months start babbling, and at 15-18 months they can say a few single words. If a child 18-24 months old has not yet learned to speak, parents should consult a doctor for early assessment and intervention. Children 24-31 months old who are slow to talk are at risk of having poorer vocabulary and verbal memory than their peers when they grow up.

Signs of slow communication

Parents should pay attention to signs in children such as limited eye contact, not smiling socially, poor general attention… When children have these symptoms, especially under 2 years old, parents should have their children screened for autism. Early detection of autism spectrum disorder is essential to ensure your child develops and learns well in the future.

Slow motor development, poor coordination

Parents need to pay attention when children have difficulty with gross motor movements (sitting, crawling, walking) or fine motor movements (holding, using a spoon). If both skills are slow to develop, the child should be taken to the doctor for timely assessment and intervention, including physical therapy if necessary, to avoid affecting physical development.

Poor memory ability

Children with mental retardation often have difficulty following simple instructions from adults, have poor memory of information (for example, remember 2-3 step tasks), are impulsive, and cannot calm down. Parents should take their children to see a doctor for problems with attention and self-control that affect learning.

Feeling sad or depressed

If your child often feels sad for no apparent reason, it may be due to depression or some mental illness. They often feel tired and cannot perform daily activities easily.

Delayed teething

Normally, children with rickets often grow their baby teeth slowly. Deficiencies in essential nutrients such as calcium and vitamin D, genetic problems, premature birth, and thyroid disease are all causes of delayed teething. Stunted children often do not reach the desired height and weight according to their age, affecting the bone mineralization process. Parents should take their children for check-ups, provide proper nutrition, and increase food variety and balanced meals.

Parents should encourage their children to exercise, ensure deep sleep to produce growth hormones, create a healthy living environment, limit electronic devices, and daily exposure to sunlight. Deep sleep helps the brain secrete growth hormone (GH) and the body absorbs calcium.