Question
Compassionate Conversation
For this activity, you will imagine that you are an afterschool caregiver for elementary school children, and one student’s parent has expressed anxiety that their child may have a developmental delay. They are not sure what type of delay and they are worried that they have done something to cause this.
To help this parent, explore some common developmental delays seen in the early school-aged years (ages five to eight) and try to find out what might cause them (if anything.) For example, are certain delays caused by genetic factors, health behaviors, or any other causes? It could be that we don’t know yet what causes certain delays as well!
Choose three delays to focus on, and for each delay describe:
What the delay is and what its symptoms are
How it is typically diagnosed
What might cause it
How it affects the physical, emotional, social, and/or intellectual needs of the child
Finally, when you have completed your research, pretend that you are having a conversation with that parent. You will video record your side of the conversation (no need to have someone stand in as the parent), as you deliver the information you found about the delays. During your conversation, keep in mind the parent’s need for compassion during this time, and the best practices for communicating with parents about possible delays that we covered in the unit. Your final “conversation” should be about two-minutes long.
To complete this activity, submit:
Your research about three developmental delays that covers all of the required bullet points (in a word processing file)
Your video conversation file
For this activity, you will imagine that you are an afterschool caregiver for elementary school children, and one student’s parent has expressed anxiety that their child may have a developmental delay. They are not sure what type of delay and they are worried that they have done something to cause this.
To help this parent, explore some common developmental delays seen in the early school-aged years (ages five to eight) and try to find out what might cause them (if anything.) For example, are certain delays caused by genetic factors, health behaviors, or any other causes? It could be that we don’t know yet what causes certain delays as well!
Choose three delays to focus on, and for each delay describe:
What the delay is and what its symptoms are
How it is typically diagnosed
What might cause it
How it affects the physical, emotional, social, and/or intellectual needs of the child
Finally, when you have completed your research, pretend that you are having a conversation with that parent. You will video record your side of the conversation (no need to have someone stand in as the parent), as you deliver the information you found about the delays. During your conversation, keep in mind the parent’s need for compassion during this time, and the best practices for communicating with parents about possible delays that we covered in the unit. Your final “conversation” should be about two-minutes long.
To complete this activity, submit:
Your research about three developmental delays that covers all of the required bullet points (in a word processing file)
Your video conversation file
Answers
Answered by
GPT-4o mini
### Research on Three Common Developmental Delays in Early School-Aged Children
#### 1. Speech and Language Delay
- **What the delay is and what its symptoms are**: A speech and language delay occurs when a child does not develop communication skills at the expected rate for their age. Symptoms can include difficulty pronouncing words, limited vocabulary, trouble understanding what others say, or challenges in using language to communicate effectively.
- **How it is typically diagnosed**: Speech and language delays are typically diagnosed by a speech-language pathologist (SLP) through standardized assessments that evaluate the child’s expressive and receptive language skills, as well as their speech clarity.
- **What might cause it**: Causes can vary but often include genetic factors, a history of ear infections that can impact hearing, neurodevelopmental disorders, or environmental factors like limited exposure to language.
- **How it affects the child**: Children with speech and language delays may struggle with social interactions, leading to frustration and potential emotional distress. Their ability to express themselves may limit their participation in classroom activities, which can impact their social skills and intellectual development because of missed opportunities for learning through communication.
#### 2. Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
- **What the delay is and what its symptoms are**: ADHD is characterized by difficulties with attention, hyperactivity, and impulsiveness. Symptoms can include trouble focusing on tasks, being easily distracted, excessive talking, inability to sit still, and challenges in waiting for their turn.
- **How it is typically diagnosed**: ADHD is diagnosed through a comprehensive evaluation that may include parent and teacher questionnaires, clinical interviews, and observation of the child's behavior over time to ensure the symptoms are consistent across different environments.
- **What might cause it**: The exact causes of ADHD are not completely understood, but genetic factors play a significant role. Other contributing factors can include prenatal exposure to tobacco, alcohol, or drugs, and early exposure to environmental toxins.
- **How it affects the child**: ADHD can impact a child's academic performance due to difficulty concentrating and completing tasks. Socially, they may face challenges in relationships due to impulsive behavior, which can lead to emotional issues such as low self-esteem or anxiety.
#### 3. Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD)
- **What the delay is and what its symptoms are**: DCD, often referred to as dyspraxia, is characterized by significant difficulties in motor coordination that is inconsistent with the child’s chronological age. Symptoms may include clumsiness, difficulty with tasks like writing, tying shoelaces, or participating in sports.
- **How it is typically diagnosed**: DCD is diagnosed by occupational therapists or pediatricians through assessments that evaluate motor skills, in combination with developmental history. The diagnosis requires the coordination difficulties to be more than expected for the child’s age.
- **What might cause it**: The causes of DCD are not fully understood but may be linked to neurological factors, genetic predisposition, or environmental influences during pregnancy.
- **How it affects the child**: DCD can significantly impact a child’s physical independence and confidence. Challenges in motor skills can make participation in physical activities difficult, leading to social and emotional consequences, such as frustration, withdrawal from activities, and potential bullying.
### Conversation Script for Parent
[Begin video recording]
**[Smiling and using a warm tone]**
Hi there! I wanted to take a moment to talk with you about your concerns regarding your child, as I understand this can be a really challenging time for you. First, I want to reassure you that you are not alone in this; many children experience developmental delays, and the important thing is that we address them together.
Let’s start with speech and language delays. These can manifest as challenges in pronouncing words correctly or having a limited vocabulary. Often, speech-language pathologists diagnose it through assessments that evaluate a child's ability to express and understand language. Causes can range from genetic factors to some environmental influences, like limited interaction with language. If a child experiences this delay, it may affect their confidence and social interactions, which is where we can help support them.
Next, there’s ADHD, which can result in difficulties with attention and occasionally impulsive behavior. It’s typically diagnosed through assessments involving parents and teachers who observe the child’s behavior over a period. While the exact causes are still being studied, genetics play a key role. Children with ADHD often face academic challenges due to attention issues and may also struggle with peer relationships, leading to emotional difficulties.
Lastly, developmental coordination disorder, or DCD, affects a child’s coordination and motor skills, making everyday tasks tough, like writing or playing sports. Diagnosis usually involves occupational therapists who assess motor skills. Sometimes, neurological factors could contribute to this delay. DCD can not only impact a child physically but may also make them feel frustrated or socially excluded during activities.
I want you to know that no one is at fault for these delays—many factors at play are beyond our control. The good news is there are resources and strategies we can use to support your child in these areas.
Remember, I’m here for you and your child. We can work together to provide the support they need. Please let me know how I can help moving forward.
[End video recording]
#### 1. Speech and Language Delay
- **What the delay is and what its symptoms are**: A speech and language delay occurs when a child does not develop communication skills at the expected rate for their age. Symptoms can include difficulty pronouncing words, limited vocabulary, trouble understanding what others say, or challenges in using language to communicate effectively.
- **How it is typically diagnosed**: Speech and language delays are typically diagnosed by a speech-language pathologist (SLP) through standardized assessments that evaluate the child’s expressive and receptive language skills, as well as their speech clarity.
- **What might cause it**: Causes can vary but often include genetic factors, a history of ear infections that can impact hearing, neurodevelopmental disorders, or environmental factors like limited exposure to language.
- **How it affects the child**: Children with speech and language delays may struggle with social interactions, leading to frustration and potential emotional distress. Their ability to express themselves may limit their participation in classroom activities, which can impact their social skills and intellectual development because of missed opportunities for learning through communication.
#### 2. Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
- **What the delay is and what its symptoms are**: ADHD is characterized by difficulties with attention, hyperactivity, and impulsiveness. Symptoms can include trouble focusing on tasks, being easily distracted, excessive talking, inability to sit still, and challenges in waiting for their turn.
- **How it is typically diagnosed**: ADHD is diagnosed through a comprehensive evaluation that may include parent and teacher questionnaires, clinical interviews, and observation of the child's behavior over time to ensure the symptoms are consistent across different environments.
- **What might cause it**: The exact causes of ADHD are not completely understood, but genetic factors play a significant role. Other contributing factors can include prenatal exposure to tobacco, alcohol, or drugs, and early exposure to environmental toxins.
- **How it affects the child**: ADHD can impact a child's academic performance due to difficulty concentrating and completing tasks. Socially, they may face challenges in relationships due to impulsive behavior, which can lead to emotional issues such as low self-esteem or anxiety.
#### 3. Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD)
- **What the delay is and what its symptoms are**: DCD, often referred to as dyspraxia, is characterized by significant difficulties in motor coordination that is inconsistent with the child’s chronological age. Symptoms may include clumsiness, difficulty with tasks like writing, tying shoelaces, or participating in sports.
- **How it is typically diagnosed**: DCD is diagnosed by occupational therapists or pediatricians through assessments that evaluate motor skills, in combination with developmental history. The diagnosis requires the coordination difficulties to be more than expected for the child’s age.
- **What might cause it**: The causes of DCD are not fully understood but may be linked to neurological factors, genetic predisposition, or environmental influences during pregnancy.
- **How it affects the child**: DCD can significantly impact a child’s physical independence and confidence. Challenges in motor skills can make participation in physical activities difficult, leading to social and emotional consequences, such as frustration, withdrawal from activities, and potential bullying.
### Conversation Script for Parent
[Begin video recording]
**[Smiling and using a warm tone]**
Hi there! I wanted to take a moment to talk with you about your concerns regarding your child, as I understand this can be a really challenging time for you. First, I want to reassure you that you are not alone in this; many children experience developmental delays, and the important thing is that we address them together.
Let’s start with speech and language delays. These can manifest as challenges in pronouncing words correctly or having a limited vocabulary. Often, speech-language pathologists diagnose it through assessments that evaluate a child's ability to express and understand language. Causes can range from genetic factors to some environmental influences, like limited interaction with language. If a child experiences this delay, it may affect their confidence and social interactions, which is where we can help support them.
Next, there’s ADHD, which can result in difficulties with attention and occasionally impulsive behavior. It’s typically diagnosed through assessments involving parents and teachers who observe the child’s behavior over a period. While the exact causes are still being studied, genetics play a key role. Children with ADHD often face academic challenges due to attention issues and may also struggle with peer relationships, leading to emotional difficulties.
Lastly, developmental coordination disorder, or DCD, affects a child’s coordination and motor skills, making everyday tasks tough, like writing or playing sports. Diagnosis usually involves occupational therapists who assess motor skills. Sometimes, neurological factors could contribute to this delay. DCD can not only impact a child physically but may also make them feel frustrated or socially excluded during activities.
I want you to know that no one is at fault for these delays—many factors at play are beyond our control. The good news is there are resources and strategies we can use to support your child in these areas.
Remember, I’m here for you and your child. We can work together to provide the support they need. Please let me know how I can help moving forward.
[End video recording]