What is growth delay in children and how can it be identified?
Is it possible to treat growth and developmental delay in children? Yes, it is — as long as there is awareness. Here are the symptoms and treatment methods of growth and developmental delay.
What is growth and developmental delay?
Growth and developmental delay is a condition in which a child’s height and weight remain below the standard values compared to other children of the same age and gender.
One of the most important causes of growth delay is insufficient or improper nutrition. In Turkey, 1 out of every 10 children experiences growth delay. In some provinces, this rate can rise to 4 out of 10 children. Despite being so common, unfortunately, it can sometimes go unnoticed. This is where parents have a critical role in identifying the symptoms.
Symptoms of growth and developmental delay
- Short stature and low weight compared to age and gender
- Frequent illness and slow recovery due to a weak immune system
- Low self-esteem and delayed social development
- Delay in intelligence and mental development
- Lack of attention
It is very important to closely monitor these symptoms and signals and to keep track of your child’s development until adolescence. Percentile calculators and growth charts are commonly used to track your child’s growth.
Percentiles (growth charts) are curves/values that show whether your child’s growth is adequate—meaning within normal ranges—based on their age and gender. The 10th percentile is considered a critical value. If a child’s height and weight percentile values fall below the 10th percentile, it is essential to consult a pediatrician to determine whether there is a growth delay.
If a diagnosis of growth delay is made, you can support your child’s healthy growth and development through a nutrition treatment plan guided by your doctor.
You can also use percentile calculators right away to check whether your child’s growth and development are progressing at normal levels compared to their peers.
Remember, growth and developmental delay is treatable—as long as you are aware!
What should be considered during the treatment process of growth delay?
Growth and developmental delay is a condition in which a child’s height and weight remain below the standard values compared to other children of the same age and gender.
One of the most important causes of growth delay is insufficient or improper nutrition. For children diagnosed with growth delay, adherence to the treatment process is extremely critical. When followed with determination and consistency, nutritional therapy guided by your pediatrician can help treat growth and developmental delay in children.
Here are the things to consider during the growth delay treatment process:
- Monitor your child’s development until adolescence, and observe how their height and weight progress compared to peers. With the help of percentiles (growth tracking charts), always consult your pediatrician when the values fall at or below the 10th percentile.
- If your child has been diagnosed with growth delay, track their growth and development—height and weight measurements—on a monthly basis with your doctor. This follow-up can also be done at a family health center or a pharmacy.
- Continue using the nutritional product recommended by your doctor for the specified duration and dosage. Keep in mind that it will only be effective in supporting height and weight development if used regularly.
- The risk of recurrence of growth and developmental delay is quite high. Even after recovery, a child who has been diagnosed with this condition should continue to be monitored by a doctor at regular intervals for another 2 years.
- Don’t forget that you can renew your prescription every month at your family health center.
- Special nutritional products come in different flavors such as strawberry, chocolate, and banana—suitable for children’s taste preferences. When renewing the prescription, you can ask your doctor for more information about the available flavors.
- If your child sometimes struggles to consume the nutritional product, you can add the unflavored/plain version to meals they already enjoy.
Remember, solving your child’s growth and development problems and giving them back their future is in your hands.
