Question
How should mental disorders and developmental delays in children under four be treated? With busy parents and a previously well-behaved child now entering kindergarten, teachers have hinted at the possibility of medical intervention.
Answer
The causes of pediatric mental disorders and developmental delays are complex, including genetic and environmental factors. Exposure to drugs, toxins, radiation therapy, malnutrition, viral infections, and chromosomal abnormalities (such as Down syndrome) during pregnancy can lead to developmental delays. Premature birth, brain injury at birth, choking, and respiratory difficulties may also trigger them. Intellectual disabilities may be influenced by both genetic transmission and environmental factors. Many genetic metabolic diseases can also cause developmental delays, such as phenylketonuria and cretinism. Early treatment can prevent developmental delays. Whether factors such as prematurity, brain injury at birth, choking, and respiratory difficulties lead to developmental delays is still controversial.