Treatment for Developmental Delays in Monroe, West Monroe, & Ruston, LA
A developmental delay means a child needs a bit more time and support to reach age-related milestones like crawling, talking, or playing with others. Building Futures Pediatric Therapy offers occupational, physical and speech therapy and hippotherapy at clinics in Monroe, West Monroe, and Ruston, LA, to help children build these skills through fun, play-based sessions, with early support making the biggest difference.
Every parent wants to build a bright future for their child. But some children struggle to master the essential skills they need for success in life. If your child seems to be falling behind their peers in movement, communication, or social skills, our occupational therapists can help. We assess all areas of your child’s development to find any delayed milestones and work with your child to help them master these key skills. Learn more about what a developmental delay is, how it can impact your child’s life, and how our occupational therapists can empower them to achieve a brighter future.
What Is a Developmental Delay?
As your child grows, there are certain developmental milestones that they should achieve like crawling, eating solid foods, and speaking in sentences. A developmental delay is the term used to describe a situation where a child does not reach these key milestones at the expected times.
While every child develops at their own pace, these milestones are a vital yardstick by which you can measure how well your child is developing. For example, most babies start crawling between 7 and 10 months old. If your baby crawls around that age, that’s great! But if they’re 12 months old and still not crawling, that indicates a delay in the development of the skills they need to be able to crawl.
Signs and Symptoms of a Developmental Delay
The main sign of a developmental delay is simply that your child isn’t achieving their milestones by the expected age. Some more specific examples include difficulties with:
- Rolling over, sitting up, crawling, or walking
- Grasping or manipulating toys or other objects
- Communicating their ideas
- Understanding what others say to them
- Making friends or playing well with other children
- Remembering what they’ve been told
- Solving problems or focusing
How Occupational Therapy Treats Developmental Delays
Our occupational therapists use proven, play-based therapy techniques to help children build developmental skills. Through engaging activities, exercises, and games, we empower your child’s independence, confidence, and ability to participate in daily tasks. Occupational therapy can give your child the foundation they need to build a bright future.
Hippotherapy for Developmental Delays
As part of our holistic approach, we may recommend hippotherapy, a unique and enjoyable technique that involves caring for and riding horses. This is a fun and engaging way for children to build physical strength, coordination, and other important developmental skills.
Early Intervention is Vital for Developmental Delays
When it comes to your child’s development, you don’t want to “wait and see.” The longer it takes them to learn the basics, the harder it will be for them to master the more challenging skills they’ll need for success in school and beyond. Early intervention is vital for children with developmental delays. The sooner you get your child support, the easier it will be for them to reach their milestones and succeed in all areas of their development.
Free Developmental Screening
If you’re concerned about your child’s development, you can take advantage of our free online developmental screening. This tool is a convenient way for parents to know with certainty if your child is achieving their developmental milestones or if they need extra support to achieve their brightest future.
FreQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How do I know if my child has a developmental delay?
You may notice your child is taking longer than expected for their age to sit, crawl, walk, talk, play, feed themselves or use their hands. Every child develops at their own pace, but if your child consistently doesn’t reach age-related milestones, it may be worth getting an evaluation.
Should I wait and see if my child catches up?
Waiting can feel easier, but early support is often more helpful. Therapy can address what is causing delays and give them the practice they need before delays start affecting more areas of daily life.
What kinds of therapy help with developmental delays?
The right type of therapy depends on your child’s needs. After an evaluation, the team can help you understand whether the biggest need is movement, communication, feeding, hand skills, sensory support or daily routines.
What will the first visit look like?
The therapist will talk with you about your concerns, watch how your child moves, plays and communicates, then look at which skills are on track or need more support. From there, they can explain the next steps in plain language.
Can therapy help if my child has delays in more than one area?
Yes. Many children need help in more than one area. Therapy can focus on the skills that matter most right now while building a plan that supports your child’s growth over time.