Child Development
and Developmental Delay
34CHAPTER
287
In Chapter 32 we discussed
some of the primary causes of
‘mental slowness’. Mostly we
looked at disabilities that come
from inside a child’s head—
conditions where the brain
has been damaged, is too
small, or for other reasons is
not able to work as quickly as
other children’s brains.
CAUSES OF SLOW MENTAL DEVELOPMENT
conditions
INSIDE
the head
conditions
OUTSIDE
the head
brain small or not complete
damage to brain
physical disability that
makes doing and exploring
things more difficult
lack of full use of brain
(not enough stimulation)
In this chapter we see how a child’s early development also depends on factors
outside the child’s head—on the opportunities a child has to use his senses, mind, and
body to learn about the things and people around him. We look at the stages or steps
of normal child development, and at ways we can help or ‘stimulate’ a child to learn and
do things more quickly. Our concern is not only to help children who are ‘mentally slow’,
but those whose development is ‘delayed’ for whatever reason.
Usually children whose minds are slow to develop are also slow in learning to use
their bodies. They begin later than other children to lift their heads, roll, sit, use their
hands, stand, walk, and do other things. They are physically delayed because of their
delayed mental development.
In other children the opposite is true. Their minds are basically complete and
undamaged, but certain physical disabilities make it harder and slower for them to
develop the use of their minds.
For example, a child who is born deaf but whose brain is normal will have difficulty
understanding what people say, and in learning to speak. As a result, she is often left
out of exchange of ideas and information. Because language is so important for the
full development of the mind, in some ways she may seem ‘mentally slow’ for her
age. However, if the child is taught to communicate her wishes and thoughts through
‘sign language’ at the age when other children learn to speak, her thinking power
(intelligence) will often develop normally (see Chapter 31).
cp
A CHILD’S MIND,
LIKE A CHILD’S BODY,
NEEDS EXERCISE TO
GROW STRONGER
On the next page is a true story that shows how a severe physical disability can lead
to slow mental development, and how a family found ways to help their child develop
more fully.