Judging The Best Time For Developmental Delay Therapy

By Doris Berlin

When you start looking for developmental delay therapy programs you are likely to be hit with a lot of opinions and theories. It can be overwhelming. It doesn't have to be so overwhelming if you just take each idea and potential therapy program one step at a time, and then make decisions based on you and your family. Searching online can seem difficult, as you have to dig pretty deep before you find any new information.

Developmental delays can be approached from a number of different viewpoints. Some believe that instructional play works for some kids while water therapies are taking off in popularity. You have to remember that not all the experts agree on one therapy or program that does the best job.

It might be more prudent for you to look for the best program for your child rather since there will never be a best program for everyone. Children with delays are often able to respond better to one therapy than another. Your child might not respond the same to a therapy as another child. It's all relative and comparative. Therefore, pushing the onslaught of opinions from your mind and focusing on what you believe is the best works better.

There have been debates regarding whether developmentally delayed children should enter therapy before school age. Many parents who have had premature babies and from that have a developmentally delayed infant or toddler can expect the adjusted age to reign over the development. Most parents do not need to adjust the age when it comes to development after 3 or 4 years of age. This raises the question if developmental delay therapy is appropriate for children under the age of 5.

Other experts approach it from a different standpoint. Not all children who are delayed were born premature. Therapies are designed to help accelerate, so to speak, the natural development in order to provide as much full function for the child. In order to ensure that the child is as prepared for school and socialization, many experts feel that early intervention helps to increase function.

Once your child is past the age of 3, most parents and physicians are able to determine whether the delay is significant in the life of the child. If there is need for additional diagnosis, such as autism, the therapies that are available are even more plentiful. There are a lot of different aspects to "treatments" for developmentally delayed children. The more a parent looks at therapy as a chance to understand and improve caring for their child rather than looking for a "fix, " the more successful therapies can be.

Some very controversial methods have laid heavy claims that their developmental delay therapy fully recovers some children. This is a very scary thing to hear. You want to hope, but you're afraid to hope. If you thoroughly investigate these programs before you enroll it is important that you ask for proof of any claims of recovery.

In the end, choosing the appropriate therapy comes down to what you feel benefits not just your child but your whole family. If you're looking for a therapy that focuses on communication, stimulation issues, and parental understanding your quest will often be fruitful. - 30453

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