Could Physical Therapy Be the Answer for Your Child’s Developmental Delays?

My child just turned 3 and he hasn’t been able to walk yet. He didn’t start talking until he was almost 2 years old, and he still seems slower than other kids his age in terms of his development. I’m worried that if my son doesn’t catch up soon, he’ll be lagging behind forever—and it breaks my heart to think that might happen because of something I did or didn’t do as a parent.

Benefits of Early Intervention

Besides physical therapy, early intervention can also help with language development, fine motor skills, gross motor skills and self-care. Early intervention helps to bridge a gap between a child’s current developmental level and his or her potential—and it’s never too early (or too late) to begin. Some of these benefits may include: Coordination – Coordination improves hand-eye coordination as well as body awareness. The more aware a child is of their body, the better they can control it.

Reasons Parents Choose Not to Use Early Intervention

Children who receive physical therapy and occupational therapy tend to make better developmental gains. As a result, children can have improved gross motor skills, fine motor skills, sensory processing, communication skills and socialization. Here are 5 reasons parents choose not to use early intervention. Could physical therapy be the answer?

What are Physical Therapists Looking For in Early Intervention Programs?

Physical therapists are trained to look for a variety of indicators in children with developmental delays and disorders, many of which are subtle or easily overlooked. When it comes to early intervention programs, one thing physical therapists are looking for is progress in motor development—from head control, to sitting up, to walking.

Common Areas Where Children Can Benefit from Physical Therapy

While it may seem strange to think of your child going to a physical therapist, these professionals can help children overcome a number of developmental delays. The most common issue is poor muscle tone. Physical therapists often work with kids on their gross motor skills, which include actions such as sitting, standing and walking. Children who are delayed in their gross motor skills will likely benefit from physical therapy, where they will learn how to control those muscles and gain better coordination.

Motor Planning/Coordination Issues

Sometimes, a person may have cognitive disabilities, but they can compensate with their physical abilities. For example, a child may not be able to solve math problems or read, but he can run really fast and kick balls really far. This means that motor planning/coordination issues are hard to detect, which is why it’s important to evaluate your child from every angle. After all, movement doesn’t develop in a vacuum—it occurs within an environment that encompasses many elements of daily life.

Gross Motor Coordination/Motor Planning Delay

A delayed gross motor delay can make it difficult for your child to sit, stand, walk, and/or run. Over time, these delays can have a negative impact on their physical development and fine motor skills (such as writing). With physical therapy specifically designed to improve gross motor coordination or motor planning delays, children are able to catch up with peers who don’t have delayed coordination and enhance their fine motor skills.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Most people tend to focus on Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) because it’s a diagnosis that most of us are more familiar with. However, there are other disorders that affect a child’s development in different ways. Some examples include: Dyslexia is a condition that affects a person’s ability to read and write. Their eyes can move very quickly, but their brain can’t process all of that information at once. Could physical therapy be the answer?

Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)

The Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) include three diagnoses with different behavioral symptoms and levels of severity: autism, Asperger syndrome, and Pervasive Development Disorder-Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS). While treatments can help your child’s behavior and learning abilities, early intervention is essential. If you suspect that your child might have an ASD, ask your pediatrician to refer you to a specialist who can diagnose and treat him or her properly.

Central Auditory Processing Disorder (CAPD) or Auditory Processing Disorder (APD)

First off, check with your pediatrician to make sure there’s not an underlying medical reason why your child is having these issues. If they’re not hearing-impaired or suffering from a delay in language development, it may be that your child has a central auditory processing disorder (CAPD) or auditory processing disorder (APD). About two to five percent of children suffer from APD and CAPD, which is characterized by listening comprehension difficulties even when hearing is normal.