When to worry about developmental delay?

[JoinTheDots]

Ok, DD is 17 months old and has hypermobility in her hips which means she is not yet mobile (crawling or walking). We have a physiotherapy appointment to address this next month. I have concerns about other aspects of her development though, including no words being spoken yet (she does babble) and no imaginative play. I am not sure she understands instructions either (does not point to things in books or pass toys to me if requested), and when I watch het in a group of toddlers she seems to have more in common with the 12 Month olds than the 18 month olds.

She has always been the last to do things of babies I know her age (take to solids, point, even getting head and neck control) so I think fine, she is a bit slower...

When do you actually worry though? When do you stop thinking "she wil catch up" and start asking for a professional opinion?

I'd always ask for a peofessional opinion. My ds was behind and ds once I've tackled it head on, he's catching up. Just get an opinion and if she catches up by her self then it's all good. It's easier to help them catch up when they are young.

If you are worried... you are worried , and personally I WOULD go to the GP and politely request a referral to a developmental Paediatrician.

Poor mobility on its own is a bit of a red herring as it is perfectly possible to be 'slow to get going' because of the hypermobility (two of mine were hypermobile) but from what you have said it does sound as if there may be issues with language/understanding, and if that is the case ..the sooner you are in the 'system' the better!

This isn't meant to worry you more tho! Two of mine were/are hypermobile, one didn't speak til 2.5, the other was 4.5! One is just sitting her A levels now:) The other does have difficulties but is loving, chatty, and mobile...and having him referred EARLY meant he got the best intervention , and has made the best progress he could have:)

And if of course, she does just catch up... no harm done!!

Ask your HV for a SOGS assessment (schedule of growth skills). This will help highlight if she is behind in any area and by how many months if she is. From then, if there is an issue in more than one developmental area you could as Medusa said ask for a Paed referral.

It's never too early if you have a question in your mind. You will be fobbed off with tales of how 'they are all different', 'they all develop at their own rate' anyway so don't go to the HV expecting help or advice at this stage. Do your own research, ask people here and on SN (not saying she has any SN just that the techniques for SN and 'just' delay are pretty much the same anyway. If she is not really communicating her needs to you ( you did not say what her non verbal communication is like so don't know if this is an issue or not) then you do need to start now to help her communicate - with simple signs or pictures for now

Thanks everyone, I went to the GP, who has referred us for a Paed appointment, I am going to make a list of the things I think she should be able to do and cannot, so I can take that with me when we go. Not sure how long it takes for these referrals to turn into appointments!

Also just want to add you can start some techniques now, you don't have to wait for appointments which take ages. Try Hanen or verbal behaviour book, hugely recommend them.

Do try to get more answers about DD as the younger they are assessed and treated= better the outcome. I use a great book by a physio that is an expert in development and movement disorders and it could help you do some basic (at home therapy) for DD.It's easy to read for parents and practitioners and maybe you could go through it and make your list to take to the paed. Babymoves. Marianne Hermsen-van Wanrooy. Its item 1 on her site.
www.babymoves.co.nz/publications.htm.
good luck with it!

I'm not sure if this is the case with your DD but my DS is also hypermobile and didn't walk until 26mths. Prior to that he wasn't a great talker either (by 2 he had quite a lot of words but wasn't stringing them together at all). Anyway, within about a fortnight of him starting to walk he suddenly started stringing three sentences together and all aspects of his development/imagination just took off at a rapid pace. DP and I basically think that he was concentrating so hard on trying to strengthen up enough to walk that he put everything else on the back burner. He's not talking as much as some his age but there's definately no noticable delay. Just thought I'd offer that point of view in case the same thing happens with your DD.

Hopefully your referral will come through soon, these things can take a frustratingly long time. Good idea about the list, its easy to forget things you want to bring up once your in the appointment

not three sentences together - three word* sentences

No idea what happened with the bold font there either