Question
I went to the hospital today to visit a colleague’s baby, who is almost two years old. The baby seems to have some hearing issues, and he doesn’t know how to take the food he’s given. My colleague said that the baby has developmental delays. What kind of tests should be done?
Answer
Developmental delays refer to situations where the rate of growth and development is slow or abnormal. The causes are varied, with most cases related to normal growth and developmental variations. If caused by pathological factors, they may be more complex, such as chromosomal diseases and genetic metabolic diseases. To diagnose developmental delays, a series of checks are required. Common check-ups include the measurement of growth hormones, thyroid function tests, trace element checks, and CT or MRI scans of the skull. Depending on the specific situation, doctors may also conduct other necessary checks to determine the cause and diagnosis of the developmental delays.