Developmental delay refers to a condition where a child does not reach developmental milestones at the expected times. These milestones include motor skills, speech and language, cognitive abilities, and social-emotional development. A delay can be in one area or multiple areas and can be temporary or indicative of a long-term issue.
Developmental delay therapy refers to a group of therapeutic interventions and strategies tailored to help children catch up in one or more areas of development. The therapy is highly individualized, depending on the child’s age, specific delay(s), and underlying causes.
Before therapy begins, a multidisciplinary evaluation is done to assess the type and severity of delay. Professionals involved may include :
Developmental delays can be caused by various factors, including :
A multidisciplinary team of professionals may be involved :
Early Intervention (EI): For children under age 3, services are often provided in-home or in daycare settings
Clinic-Based Therapy : One-on-one sessions in therapy centers
School-Based Therapy : Provided as part of special education services
Teletherapy : Increasingly used, especially for speech and behavioral therapy.