If your child is falling behind on important developmental skills, you may wonder why. In some cases, the answer may trace back to an injury during birth. Here’s what to look for.
Trouble sitting, crawling or walking
Brain injuries can cause delays in motor skills. A child may struggle to hold their head up, sit without support, crawl, walk, balance or control one side of their body. Some children may also have stiff or weak muscles or movements that seem unusually difficult to control.
Taking longer to talk
A significant speech or language delay can be a sign of an underlying brain injury. This may include having very few words for their age, difficulty understanding language or trouble communicating. Some children may also have difficulty forming words or understanding what others say.
Struggling to learn new things
Some birth-related brain injuries can affect how a child learns and processes information. You may notice difficulty following instructions, remembering information, solving problems or learning new skills. These problems may become more apparent once your child starts school and is expected to read, write, follow lessons or work independently.
Falling further behind over time
A developmental delay can become more noticeable as your child gets older and new skills become expected. A child who was only slightly behind as a toddler may later struggle with reading, writing, following instructions or keeping up with other children in school.
Know when to look closer
If your child continues to struggle with development, it may be worth looking more closely at whether anything during pregnancy, labor or delivery could have played a role. If you are unsure what happened or whether something during birth caused your child’s delays, a birth injury attorney can help you look at the circumstances more closely. You do not have to figure it out on your own.