by Joey Lamberti
No parent is ever ready to hear that their child may suffer from a mental health or developmental disorder. But, from personal experience, I can attest to the importance of early intervention.
All children develop differently. Within their first eighteen months, some children are mimicking facial expressions and sounds, talking up a storm, and transitioning from crawling to walking. Essentially, they become walking, talking miniature tornadoes. However, this is not universal among all growing children. You may notice that your child is not developing quickly, or perhaps, exhibiting signs that highlight the need to take action. It takes a lot of courage to say, “There is something wrong with my child.” It’s even harder to make a call to your primary care physician or pediatrician and ask for help. In lieu of May being Mental Health Month, the goal of this article is to discuss the hints your child is giving that warrants the need for early intervention, and how you may be able to obtain the appropriate care.