Having a child is one of the most rewarding things that a person can do. After all, there is nothing quite like seeing your child grow and thrive in the world. But there are a number of conditions that can hamper your child’s success, and even their overall quality of life. Through managing these conditions well, you will be able to better their lives immensely. Admitting that there is a problem can be difficult, at least at first. For many parents, this is a point of considerable struggle. But doing so is something that will hugely pay off at the end of the day.
Communication and hearing disorders, for instance, are more common than many realize, and can develop in a number of different ways. They will often, at the end of the day, require pediatric physical therapy. This pediatric physical therapy will be most successful the earlier that it is obtained. Therefore, parents should be on the lookout for any hearing and communication difficulties, provided that they were not present at birth. Fortunately, screening for such issues has become better than ever.
This is particularly true of hearing screenings. Hearing will be tested at birth in the vast majority of children. In some cases, this will pick up on a preexisting hearing condition, often hearing loss. However, it is not common for many hearing conditions to be detected at this early date and so regular screenings after are recommended, including one at one month old, a time when you should be taking your child in for regular doctor’s visits anyway (as newborn babies go through an intense period of growth early on and also will need to be vaccinated throughout this first year of life). In addition to this, knowing that many children are not diagnosed with hearing loss or difficult until between the ages of one and one and a half can showcase how important it is to continue screening.
If they have hearing loss, especially if it is detected later on, a communication disorder is likely to also be present. But hearing loss is certainly not the only cause of communication disorders, which are quite prevalent throughout the country. In fact, nearly 10% (around 8%, to be just a bit more specific) of all children who fall between the ages of 3 and 17 have some type of a communication disorder falling somewhere on the scale of severity to mildness (something that can range quite dramatically indeed from child to child). Getting your child into pediatric physical therapy, however, can be hugely beneficial to the management of this condition. But before pediatric physical therapy can be obtained, it is hugely important for you to look out for any warning signs of a communication disorder.
Fortunately, there are some clear signs that one might be present, as any professional of physical therapy for kids can attest to, especially someone who is familiar with the safe and sound protocol. For instance, monitoring your child’s speech development is likely to tell you a lot. If up to half of or so of what your child is saying is easy to understand by the time that they reach the age of 2 and nearly all of their words and conversations can be understood by the age of 4, it is likely that your child is on the right track, developmentally speaking. If this is not the case, it might be a red flag for a communication disorder that will necessitate pediatric physical therapy for kids. If your child is not saying single words by the time that they are one and up until their second birthday, this might also be a red flag for a communication disorder, though it is likely that further monitoring will be required before pediatric physical therapy for kids is obtained. Fortunately, this occupational therapy for kids and even occupational therapy for teens is easier to obtain than ever before, and can be found in the vast majority of this country.
At the end of the day, it can be hard to admit that your child is in need of help. But doing so is something that will greatly benefit them down the line.