Some children suffer from the phenomenon of delayed motor development and it appears when the mother notices that the child’s motor ability is not keeping pace with his peers of the same age. This is due to several reasons, including organic and inorganic, but in all cases the mother must take care and not neglect the condition and go for immediate treatment by specialists so that this does not affect the child’s future life, knowing that one can resort to Al-Mousa Specialized Center because it provides the necessary health care for such cases. For more details about delayed motor development in children, follow us until the end. 

What is delayed motor development in children?

It is one of the symptoms that affects a large number of children, as the child suffers from weak motor development and does not acquire the required motor skills like his peers of the same age, such as crawling, standing, and walking.

Delayed motor development in children is linked to some other disabilities that may require the child for life, such as autism, hearing loss, as well as cerebral palsy and other diseases. 

Note that the slight delay in the child’s motor development does not cause concern, but what raises concern is the continuous delay that is accompanied by a delay in other aspects of the child’s development. 

There are many reasons that lead to this type of delay, but the condition must be diagnosed as soon as possible in order to avoid any complications for the child that may affect the child’s personal and social life later. 

Causes of delayed motor development in children

There are many reasons for delayed motor development in children, the most important of which are the following:

First: organic reasons 

The organic causes that lead to a child suffering from developmental delay, specifically motor development, include the following:

• Prenatal causes: The mother suffers from some diseases during pregnancy, such as high blood pressure and diabetes, in addition to taking drugs or alcohol, or bleeding during pregnancy. 
• Causes during childbirth: A lack of oxygen occurs during childbirth, which leads to damage to some of the child’s brain cells. 
• Reasons after birth: The child was exposed to some trauma or bruises in the brain, or some genetic mutations occurred, or the child was afflicted with meningitis, or a nervous system disease. 

Second: Inorganic causes 

There are some inorganic causes that lead to a child suffering from delayed motor development, which are as follows:

• Females develop faster than males. 
• The mother carries the child for long periods and does not encourage him to move. 
• The social environment in which the child grows up does not encourage him to move, practice different activities, and socialize with peers. 

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Stages of normal motor development in children

The child's motor development goes through several stages, which are as follows:

• He starts standing at the age of 12 months. 
• He starts walking from one year to approximately 15 months. 
• Begins to climb stairs with assistance and walk backwards at 16 to 18 months. 
• Motor development develops at the age of two years, when he can jump, draw, and use some tools. 
• The child practices some complex motor activities between the ages of 2 and 3 years. 
• The child begins to handle clothes zippers, use scissors, take off clothes and eat from the age of 3 to 4 years. 

Signs of delayed motor development in children

There are some indicators that indicate delayed motor development in children, which are as follows:

• Inability to raise his head at the age of 3 months. 
• Inability to sit without assistance at the age of 9 months. 
• The presence of involuntary reactions to all voluntary actions performed by the child. 
• Inability to stand or bear weight on the legs in the first year. 
• Inability to walk in his second year. 
• There is stiffness in the arms and legs. 
• Moving the trunk and legs without control and lack of flexibility.
• Dropping things from the hand and not being able to control them. 

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How to diagnose delayed motor development in children

Cases of delayed motor development in children are diagnosed by a doctor who examines the child and requests a number of tests and x-rays to confirm the cause of the problem and so that the doctor can prescribe the appropriate treatment. 

It is preferable to resort to Al-Mousa Specialized Center, as it has all the elements that contribute to treating and diagnosing the condition correctly. 

Methods of treating delayed motor development

There are many methods that are followed to treat delayed motor development in children, which are as follows:

First: drug treatment 

Early detection of delayed motor development in children contributes to ease of treatment, such as the use of drug therapy in order to support the child’s body with a group of vitamins and minerals such as calcium and vitamin D. 

Second: physical therapy 

When medications fail to improve the condition, the doctor requests treatment اFor natural treatment And practice some exercises that help the child stand, walk, and other movements, with the help of the parents. 

Third: Auxiliary means and prosthetic devices 

This step is one of the advanced steps in treatment, as some assistive devices are used in order to preserve the child’s limbs from deformation and put them on the correct path to avoid shortening of the tendons or weakness in the muscles. 

Fourth: Surgery 

This is considered the last method in treating delayed motor development in children, since there are some cases that require surgical intervention in order to treat bone deformity or shortened tendons. 

When should you visit a doctor?

You must go to the treating physician immediately if you notice one or more of these signs in the child, which are as follows:

• There is noticeable laxity in the child’s organs, especially the hands and feet. 
• The baby's constant crying and difficulty breastfeeding. 
• The child's lack of attention to either auditory or even visual stimuli. 
• Lack of acquiring the necessary motor skills that are in line with peers of the same age. 

In conclusion, we would like to clarify that delayed motor development in children is the result of a lack of development of their fine motor skills, due to a defect in the formation of the child’s nervous system, and it usually affects the child for life, and is accompanied by a number of other diseases such as cerebral palsy, autism, and others. However, the condition can be improved, especially if one goes to the appropriate center such as Al Mousa Specialized Center, undergoes the correct diagnosis, and receives the appropriate treatment, which contributes to enhancing the healing process and full recovery, especially if the cause is temporary. 

اسئلة شائعة

How can motor development be improved?

This is done through methods and methods that enhance the growth and development of the child’s motor skills, such as swimming and football, and all methods that contribute to improving physical fitness and social interaction. 

What are the factors affecting motor development?

The type of food the child eats, as proper nutrition helps develop the child’s motor skills faster, in addition to regular health care, in addition to the degree of intelligence, as an intelligent child is more capable of motor development. 

When is a baby considered late to roll over?

The child is considered one of the cases of delayed development. If he reaches the age of 6 months and does not turn over, then he is late in movement. 

When is a child's calmness abnormal? 

When it is the result of a child suffering from a psychological problem due to a reaction disorder, and when it is accompanied by an inability to deal with others, and it is usually the result of a lack of oxygen or a low blood sugar level. 

 المصادر:

Types of Developmental Delays in Children – nyulangone

Does My Child Have Physical Developmental Delays – healthychildren