Question
A two-year-old and two-month-old boy has been developing slower than his peers since infancy. Currently, his language ability, gross motor skills, and fine motor skills are only equivalent to a child of nine months old. The boy is particularly shy,dislike interacting with strangers or children of the same age, and is not very responsive to instructions. As he is a premature baby, how should parents handle this situation?
Answer
Some children with congenital developmental delays may exhibit abnormal features in appearance and posture. For example, children with Down syndrome may have widely spaced eyes, slanted eyes, a flat nasal bridge, a tongue that often sticks out, and drooling, collectively known as the ‘international face’. Children with hydrocephalus may have an especially large head circumference, while children with microcephaly may have a particularly small head. Children with hypothyroidism may be especially short in stature, and those with phenylketonuria may have skin