The Importance of Early Intervention in Neurodevelopmental Disorders

For years, it was difficult to tell whether or not a child had a neurodevelopmental disorder until they were of school age. This was effectively unhelpful, as intervention at that point could not do much. Common neurodevelopmental disorders that children have been affected by like this include autism, cerebral palsy, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, learning disabilities, and more. Let’s explore some of the early signs of neurodevelopmental disorders and some ways to intervene early.

The Early Signs of Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Thankfully, healthcare providers have found signs that can identify the possibility of neurodevelopmental disorders. Common signs include a lack of response to outside stimuli, unable to follow simple instructions, and an inability to imitate actions or words. Other signs include failing to meet certain developmental milestones such as crawling, sitting up, or holding things. Tantrums may be another sign of neurodevelopmental disorders. Your child may also not be able to maintain eye contact, may cross their eyes, or may be unable to control the motion of their eyes. Lastly, an early sign of neurodevelopmental disorders is a child’s lack of smiling, waving, reaching, or pointing. Every child is different, and this is not an exhaustive list, but these are some of the most common signs something is awry.

Early Intervention

The method of intervening will vary from child to child and especially so depending on the neurodevelopmental disorder one is concerned with. But as there are a lot of common signs of neurodevelopmental disorders, there are a lot of common intervention methods. Speech and language therapy is very common, as well as physical therapy to improve motions like jumping, walking, balancing, or gripping. Behavioral therapy is also an option to correct or reduce negative behaviors like tantrums, hitting, and ostensibly refusing to engage in social interactions.

Intervening early in neurodevelopmental disorders is critical for any child to live the best life they can. Research suggests that the first two years in a child’s life are foundational to the development of their life. This is because children at this age will respond best to therapy and environmental stimuli. So, if you or a loved one is concerned about a child’s possible neurodevelopmental disorder, we specialize in pediatric neurology, please reach out to us at 732-856-5999 to see how we can help you.