if your child had a delay

Bruner1

I suppose I'm looking for reassurance. Does this sound like your LO when he/she was an infant? and how is your LO now?

My now 10 month old son started weekly physcial therapy (PT) at 7 months for a gross motor delay (low muscle tone). He has made progress, but I don't know if its progress he would've made on his own, or if the PT is really helping. At 10 months old, he's not yet crawling/scooting. He sits very well, reaches (and by stretching/reaching he essentially inches across the floor). He cannot pull himself up to his knees or stand. If I pull him into a stand, he only lasts 10 or so seconds before he cant hold it anymore. He still hates being on his belly & will roll off of it after only a few seconds.

He babbles, but does not do the usual 'bababa daddada mamama' (but there are b's d's and m's in his babbling).

He does eat some 'real food' (a bit of banana, a cracker, some peas, etc), but is no where near being able to eat 'real food' in place of purrees. He chews on sippy cup spouts, but has not mastered tilting the cup. When he was born (at 37w5d), it took about 2 weeks for him to 'get' bf'ing and it took about 6 weeks for him to 'get' eating purrees when we started solids at 5 months.

 We're still at the point where we don't know if something is 'wrong' or if he's just on the slow side of developing. Does this sound like something you went through w/ your LO? If so, how are things now?

 

meg1974

My DD had a gross motor delay and low muscle tone when she was 2. She couldn't jump or climb stairs on her own. The PT said it was a minor delay, but we did therapy for about 6 months anyway. I think it really helped her. She is doing well and on average now, although I do notice other kids her age can climb stairs easier and faster than her. In all honesty, it might just be that she isn't a physically-inclined person (I'm definitely not!). 

She wasn't able to tip a sippy cup until she was at least 15 months or so. But, her speech has always been advanced and she never had any problems eating.

5 months is considered early for starting solids (at least according to the AAP and WHO), so I don't think it's unusual for it to take a little while to get it at that age. 

So, I guess some of the issues you're having sound normal, while some might be cause for concern. I would say talk to your PT and pedi. They can probably give you a more accurate assessment looking at his development from a holistic standpoint. If you don't feel like they are meeting your needs, you could always get a second opinion.  

HTH! 

TriciaandSean

Sounds like normal delays that can be helped with PT and Speech Therapy.

My son started receiving PT at 12-13 months.  He didn't crawl until 14 months, because of low muscle.  He also didn't walk until 17 months.  

He started speech therapy around 21 months because he wasn't making a ton of sounds or imitating any words.

He will be 2 on Saturday and he's running everywhere, climbing and has caught up for the most part with his gross motor skills.  He is still lazy, but he can do most things.  He is little so he still isn't able to climb stairs standing or go down them, but he is able to do most things.

His communication has exploded in the last few weeks, it's amazing to hear him talk and know that therapy is working.

Don't be ashamed to get the therapy your son needs.  The therapists will also be able to tell you if it is working if you aren't sure or if you think it's something else.  

kcisthebombdotcom

At 1.5 my DS was very delayed. He tested at a 9-12 month level for language skills. At 2.5 he is well within the average range for those skills and only struggles with articulation of words now. My DD also has low muscle tone and there isn't anything permanently wrong with her. She walks and climbs and runs just like any other kid her age. Some kids are just late bloomers. I wouldn't be super concerned that something is permanently wrong with your child.

lujain

My daughter had multiple developmental delays.  The neurologist diagnosed her motor hypotonia, but she never received PT.  She was late to walk, run, and jump.  She was also diagnosed with developmental delay, a speech disorder, and a language disorder.  LO did not combine a vowel and a consonant sound until 13 1/2 months.  (Before that, she only said aaa.)

LO received speech and occupational therapy from 12 months to 30 months.  We started out getting services through EI and then won our appeal against our insurance company and got services through them. 

It was very scary and stressful not knowing the cause of our kid's developmental delays.  The low point was when we had her evaluated for autism and the developmental pediatrician recommended that we start behavioral therapy.  (We don't have concerns about autism anymore.)

Things have worked out fine.  DD talks up a storm.  We have her 3-year checkup today, and I expect to hear good things from the pediatrician.  I still have minor concerns about her gross motor skills.  LO runs a lot slower than kids younger than her (she does more of a jog/trot than an actual run.)  She can't, for example, stand on one foot for one second yet, or jump forward 6 inches.  I suspect she won't be the star of her P.E. class, so her strengths will be in other areas.

Hope things turn out well with your LO.  The Special Needs board is a good resource for mommies whose kids have delays. 

islelily

My DS was in physical therapy from about 3 mo until 18 mo for gross motor delays (low muscle tone along with torticollis).  He didn't crawl or cruise until 13 1/2mo. He finally walked on his own at 16 1/2 months.

I found that I needed to do the exercises that the PT suggested with DS multiple times a day and not just when the PT was there.  It's something that needs to be repeated so that they gain muscle strength and memory.  Keep at it, I know it can be frustrating (thinking "when is he ever going to XYZ??"

DS is now 22 months (tomorrow!) and is awesome in his gross motor skills.  He no longer qualifies for PT as he's at or ahead of his age developmentally in the different categories.

 

Your LO will make progress, keep at it!