Chapter 32: Cognitive Delay

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HealthWiki > Disabled Village Children > Chapter 32: Cognitive Delay

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In this chapter:

 

In this chapter:

Cognitive delay is a delay in a child’s mental development. The child takes longer to learn things than other children his age. He may be delayed in beginning to move, smile, show interest in things, use his hands, sit, walk, speak, and understand. Or he may develop some of these skills quickly, and take longer with others.

Cognitive delay ranges from mild to severe. The child with mild cognitive delay takes longer to learn certain skills. But with help he can grow up to care for himself and take an active, responsible part in the community. The child with severe cognitive delay, as he grows older, may stay at the mental age of a baby or young child. He will always need to be cared for in some ways.

Cognitive delay cannot be cured. However, all children with cognitive delay can be helped to progress more quickly. The earlier this begins, the more ability the child is likely to gain.

IMPORTANT! In this chapter we look at some of the causes of cognitive delay and briefly describe 2 common forms (Down syndrome and hypothyroidism). However, cognitive delay is only one of the reasons for delayed development in children. A child with loss of vision will take longer to learn to reach and move about unless he has extra help and encouragement. A child with hearing loss will be delayed in learning to communicate unless he is helped to learn in other ways than speech. A child who has a severe physical disability is often delayed in developing use of both his body and mind. Because developmental delay is common with so many disabilities, we include discussion of it in several separate chapters.

With help, some mentally slow children can learn to read and write, and do many of the things that normal children do. (Photo of a child with Down syndrome in Indonesia, by Carolyn Watson, Christian Children’s Fund.)

Information on helping a child with cognitive or developmental delay is in Chapters 34 to 40. Chapters 34 and 35 discuss early child development and ways to help or stimulate a child to learn early skills (use of the senses, movement, and communication). Chapters 36 to 39 discuss learning for self-care (feeding, dressing, toileting, and bathing). Chapter 40 child behavior, and ways to encourage behavior that helps learning.

Other ideas for helping children with cognitive delay are in the CHILD-to-child activity, "Children Who Have Difficulty Understanding". Consider the needs and challenges of children with cognitive delay as they become sexually grown up.

One important need that we do not include in detail in this book is education for children with cognitive delay. Some possibilities are discussed in Chapter 53, on education. But often specific teaching methods and materials are needed. An excellent book is Special Education for Mentally Handicapped Pupils. For toys that help a child learn, see Chapter 49.

This page was updated:04 Apr 2024