Delayed Milestones in children

Every child grows at their own pace. One of the most major concerns of any parent is delayed milestones in their children.

Developmental delay is the delay in the development of a child as normally expected at his/her age. Development of skills depends upon maturation of the nervous system.

According to WHO, about 5% of children under 14 years of age have some type of developmental delay. In India, the prevalence of developmental delay under 2 years is nearly 2%.

There are various types of developmental delays and can be observed in one or more areas.

  • Language or speech
  • Social-behavioural skills
  • Emotional development
  • Intellactual-memory or thinking skill

The common reasons for these delays are varied and as follows:-

  • Autism spectrum disorder
  • Genetic defect-like down’s syndrome
  • Fetal alcohol syndrome-Mother consuming alcohol during pregnancy
  • Child abuse
  • Development delays related to premature delivery
  • Certain medication, diseases of eyes, ears, dysarthria, retinopathy etc.
  • Poor nutrition

Treatment

It usually includes identifying the cause and the specific treatment like correcting vision issue by surgery or contact lenses, treating middle ear infection which probably caused the speech delay etc.

Occupational therapy is also started side by side so that there is improvement in social, emotional and behavioural skills of the child.

The early the diagnosis is made the better the prognosis as the treatment starts early.

Homeopathy approach-

Homeopathy has time and again proved its efficacy in dealing with delayed milestones in children. Each child is little different from each other, and is treated according to his or her personal needs.

Homeopathic medicines treat the developmental issues and thus aid in normal child development, helping the child to grow optimally.

Homeopathic medicines help overcome the developmental problems for the particular age of the child. Thus, the child can grow and mature normally.

It is known to very gently help the children in achieving their milestones without any side-effects and even the occupational therapy done works better in the children after they are started on Homeopathy. The following are the medicines and their indication:- Calcarea carb-Useful for children with open fontanelles and who take cold easily,slow learning to walk and delayed dentition.

Baryta carb- dwarfish mentally and physically and those who show retarded development after vaccination.

Tuberculinum- Useful in children who are weak emaciated and who suffer from recurrent cold and upper respiratory tract infections.

Carcinosin- It is best suited for children who are showing delayed developmental milestones, difficulty for falling asleep, borderline autistic, hyperactive.