# Why Does My Child Seem Different From Other Children? Is Something Wrong?: a Webinar

### with Gwendolyn Crawford Angelos M.Ed./ L-SLP

#### Sole Proprietor, Gwen Crawford Speech Therapy, LLC

Ms. Crawford Angelos has worked for the past 29 years with infants, toddlers, children, youth, families and geriatrics in hospitals, rehabilitation hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, clinics and in natural environments with community organizations and programs.

Pediatricians constantly say, “let’s wait and see,” “give him time” or “let her grow.” However, the feeling persists that something is off with your child’s development. Learn what to do to help your child reach their full potential. We’ll cover what signs to look for, how to get Early Steps Early Intervention services, and how to accept your child’s differences. (P.S. It’s not your fault!)

### Watch Webinar Video:

#### Read Transcript

**[Julie]** So you’ll see a, okay, you will see a button to click there and welcome. We are about to start this webinar with Gwen Crawford. It’s about children who you think might be having a problem with their development and you’re not quite sure what to do or how to know. My name’s Julie McKinney, I’m with Exceptional Lives. We will ensure accessibility for all participants, including descriptions for anyone who’s visually impaired attending the webinar.

**[Gwen]** Thank you, Julie. Good afternoon, my name is Gwen Crawford Angelos. I am a dark skin, black female. I’m wearing a teal green blouse with matching earrings. I’m a speech pathologist here in Baton Rouge.

I’d like to share a referral I received for a young infant that was having difficulty with communications. As I read the evaluation, I realized that the best way to ascertain the concerns of the parent was to speak directly with them. So I called the mother, introduced myself, and specifically asked what her concern was. She wanted to know why her child does not seem like other children and if something was wrong.

As our conversation went on, I realized this was her first child. For the first two years and two to three months of the child’s life, he came in contact with no other children and very few adults, only his mom and dad. I began to explain developmental milestones, which include:

- **Cognition**: How the child maneuvers through their environment, processes information, and communicates.
- **Communication**: Expressive language (what they say) and receptive language (what they understand).
- **Gross Motor skills**: Movement-related skills, such as walking and climbing.
- **Social Emotional behaviors**: The behaviors children demonstrate when learning empathy and responding to stimuli.

### Signs of Developmental Challenges:

1. **Delays in speech production**
2. **Clumsiness** or uncontrolled movements
3. **Difficulty with non-verbal cues**
4. **Sensitivity to sound**
5. **Sensitivity to textures and brightness**
6. **Obsessive behavior with games or shows**

### Causes of Developmental Delay:

- **Hearing impairment**: Can include issues ranging from fluid in the ear to significant nerve loss.
- **Medical problems**
- **Family history**
- **Lead poisoning**
- **Unknown causes**

### What to Do:

1. **Consult your pediatrician**: Request a hearing evaluation early.
2. **Trust your instincts**.
3. **Early Steps Early Intervention Program**: A federal program for children from birth to three years old, providing varied services. Access can be through pediatricians, social workers, and local organizations.

### Managing Emotions:

Recognizing developmental delays can elicit feelings of denial, fear, confusion, and guilt in parents. Relief comes from navigating the resources available to help your child.

### Resources to Help:

- **Hearing healthcare**: Free hearing tests available.
- **Ages and Stages Questionnaire**: To determine developmental progress.

The CDC has realigned its developmental milestones, pushing some expectations back to 18 months. Please stay informed about these changes.

Thank you, Gwen, for sharing this crucial information. We hope that this webinar helps those who are concerned about their child's development.