The first five years of a child with a neurodevelopmental disorder are critical to their overall development. Find out how early intervention can help.
Think of a child’s brain like a sponge. Especially in the first five years, you absorb experiences, emotions, and learning rapidly. Early signs of neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), dyslexia, dyscalculia, and specific learning disabilities (SLD) often begin to appear during this critical period. Catching these signs early and seeking support can make a big difference. The sooner children receive the right support, the more likely they are to thrive. Let’s talk about why early intervention is essential in managing neurodevelopmental disorders.
Identifying neurodevelopmental disorders
What can help us identify these disorders? Let’s look at the case of autism. A child born with autism may appear perfectly healthy, tall and at the right weight, but symptoms may appear later in life. What is often left behind is the child’s connection. For example, not looking at the listener while speaking. If someone tells a child to “put this down” or “bring that,” the child may not obey. They may ignore you if you ask them to look at something. Sometimes pointing at things doesn’t work.
Children with autism may not include words like “mommy” or “daddy” in conversation in the correct context. You may be able to recite poems and songs, but everyday conversation is difficult. Many children have sensory problems, such as seeing light, tilting their head to the side, focusing on objects, spinning in circles, or having abnormal sleep schedules.
At the same time, children with ADHD can see someone, hear and carry out commands, speak and often show intelligence. They are patient and have trouble following certain rules. ADHD includes hyperactivity, where a child is overly active and/or inattentive. Therefore, even if you know what you need to do, you may not be able to concentrate on the task.
Many children have learning disabilities. One example is dyslexia, which causes individuals to have difficulty processing spoken language and reading and writing. They can speak clearly but may have problems with written language and reading comprehension. They also often ask for help with basic math concepts, such as knowing “two plus two,” and may have problems with body control, such as misjudging when to catch a ball.
Why are the first five years important?
Why do we need to intervene early? During the first five years of life, the human brain makes its greatest advances. The head grows 12 cm longer in the first year, when 80 percent of brain growth occurs. Another 20% of the development will be completed in about 6 years.
During this period, the brain’s neuroplasticity is at its highest level, which is why it is called the critical period. At this stage, a child’s brain is very open to learning and change. If approached and handled correctly, this period can foster growth and learning. After that period, your brain doesn’t change as much as it used to, so you have to work harder to get the same effect.
These needs are why these five years are considered the most important years in a child’s life. Therefore, careful attention should be paid to care and education.
Recognizing red flags
Parents and caregivers are advised to watch for certain warning signs. Some signs include your child not looking you in the eye, not following your instructions, responding to your name, or pointing to objects.
You don’t have to learn everything in a hurry, but some functions should be learned within a certain age range. If your child isn’t pointing or speaking to understand context by 18 months, doesn’t say familiar words by age 2, and isn’t saying many words (15 to 20) at that point, it’s cause for concern.
read more: How can autism be detected early to avoid complications?
Interventions for neurodevelopmental disorders
Interventions vary depending on the child’s needs. Occupational therapy with sensory integration is often used to treat sensory issues associated with autism, such as a preoccupation with light or repetitive movements.
Occupational therapy may also be helpful for children with ADHD who exhibit hyperactivity or mild sensory impairment. Speech therapy is started if the child does not want to speak or is calm but unable to speak.
Children with dyslexia are supported by special educators who use a variety of strategies to support letter and number learning, including teaching them the connections between how letters look and their mental meanings.
Applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy can also help control and cope with a variety of behaviors and can be used to support people with autism.
Role of parents and health professionals
Interventions in the management of neurodevelopmental disorders require a strong relationship between parents and health professionals. Therefore, the Government of India and the Indian Academy of Pediatrics have directed doctors to assess developmental progress every 18 months during routine vaccinations.
Pediatricians look for early signs of difficulty during visits and administer M-CHAT tests to detect early warnings of autism and other related issues.
When signs of illness are detected early, doctors and parents can understand the best treatment options, and when people work together, a child’s recovery can be accelerated.
