Navigating Childhood Developmental Delays After an ADD ADHD Autism or PICA Diagnosis
- Coach Nneka
- Apr 2
- 5 min read
Receiving a diagnosis like ADD, ADHD, Autism, speech delay, or PICA can feel overwhelming for parents and caregivers. Questions flood the mind: What does this mean for my child’s future? What steps should I take next? How can I support my child’s growth and development? This post aims to guide you through the crucial early stages after a diagnosis, offering practical advice and clear next steps to help your child thrive.
Understanding the Diagnosis
Each diagnosis, such as ADD, ADHD, Autism, speech delay, or PICA, comes with its own set of challenges and strengths. Understanding what the diagnosis means helps you advocate effectively for youself, your child, and your family.
ADD and ADHD involve difficulties with attention, impulse control, and hyperactivity. Children may struggle with focus but often have unique creativity and energy.
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) affects communication, social interaction, and behavior. It varies widely, so each child’s needs are unique.
Speech Delay means a child is behind in developing language skills, which can affect communication and socialization.
PICA is characterized by eating non-food items, which can pose health risks and require careful management.
Knowing the specifics of your child’s diagnosis helps you tailor support and seek appropriate resources.
Building a Support Team
After a diagnosis, assembling a team of professionals is essential and usually the first step... BUT HOLD ON A SECOND! Before you assemble your team and run endless tests, have you thought about the following?
Stress the silent destroyer and killer: Understanding that the level of stress both you, your child, and family are experiencing is affecting the state of the parasympathetic nervous system for you and your child. Once the nervous system is dysregulated and in fight or flight, inflammation skyrockets, development slows, and restoring the health of your loved one and yourself becomes a fantasy.
You must forgive without holding any form of resentment: Where there is unforgiveness, challenges with health will erupt, evolve, and remain. Who is undeserving of your forgiveness? Now is the time to completely surrender to the hurt and betrayal and ask God to restore peace in your heart and the grace to forgive those who have done wrong to you. Forgiveness is a key step to a happier, fulfilled life regardless of any challenge that you are currently facing.
Seek Clarity and Direction: Seek clarity from GOD, ask YHWH to show you how to navigate and heal from your challenges. Therapies alone will not provide the guidance that you need to heal your mind, body, soul, and spirit. Therapies focus on outward symptoms, but you cannot address what's on the outside without addressing what's going on inside of the body. The things that you cannot see but feel. Our minds are a battlefield, but it creates and destroys, and only you can decide to understand your thought patterns in an effort to regain your mind and health.
Evironmental triggers affecting our health: MUST READ!
Observe your environment. Are you living in chaos, quarreling with your wife, husband, exes, family members, co-workers, strangers, and friends? You cannot regain your health in a chaotic environment. The frequencies of shame, guilt, apathy, doubt, confusion, anger, resentment, and a victim mindset drive and maintain illness. Are you and your child exposed to mold and mycotoxins? Do you filter your water and mineralize it before consuming, or do you drink straight from the tap/faucet water? Water is one of the major sources of heavy metals, chemicals, and pathogens. Do you use plastics to consume hot food or drink water from them? Plastics pose a major health risk for everyone. They damage our endocrine system, affect brain development in children and infants, affect thyroid and reproductive health, lower IQ in children, and cause learning and behavioral issues. Do not microwave foods in plastic. Do you cook with flavor enhancers? Maybe consider cooking with natural spices and salt instead of MSG (Monosodium glutamate). Search your heart and soul for times that you have been ungrateful and practice gratitude. These have to be addressed before therapies can be effective. You cannot heal in the same environment that got you sick.
Now as you are recovering from the shock of a diagnosis and seeking help, it is essential to pay attention to your environment, reflect on your beliefs, lifestyle and mindset and work on these areas as needed. Clean up your pantry, try as much as possible to maintain peace at home because you cannot bypass this step.
Homeschool or prioritize spending quality time with your child. Let your child feel safe and loved around you.
Now with the help of science, getting on board with professional help is critical. This professional team may include:
Work with health coaches: Health coaches who have experienced challenges guide individuals on how to navigate, what to look for, and how to address symptoms by focusing on the root cause rather than just the symptoms.
Pediatrician or Developmental Specialist: To monitor health and development.
Speech Therapist: For speech delays or communication challenges.
Occupational Therapist: To improve daily living skills and sensory processing.
Behavioral Therapist: Especially helpful for Autism and ADHD to develop coping strategies.
Nutritionist: Particularly important for managing PICA safely.
Creating a Personalized Plan
Every child is different, so a one-size-fits-all approach won’t work. Work with your support team to create a plan that fits your child’s strengths and challenges. This plan might include:
Holistic coaches: Discover root cause triggers, botanicals, mindset, and hidden triggers related to your patterns and lifestyle, and work with mentors who understand your challenges.
Therapy schedules: Regular sessions for speech, occupational, or behavioral therapy. Notice when your child is stressed and slow down!
Educational goals: Tailored learning objectives and classroom accommodations.
Home strategies: Daily routines and activities that reinforce skills learned in therapy.
Health monitoring: For conditions like PICA, regular check-ups to prevent complications.
Documenting progress and setbacks helps adjust the plan as your child grows.
Advocating for Your Child in School
Schools play a critical role in supporting children with developmental delays. You can:
Request an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or a 504 Plan to ensure your child receives necessary accommodations.
Communicate regularly with teachers and school counselors.
Share insights from therapists to help educators understand your child’s needs.
Encourage social inclusion and peer support.
Being proactive and informed helps your child access the best educational environment.
Supporting Emotional and Social Development
Children with developmental delays often face social challenges. Helping your child build confidence and friendships is key.
Encourage playdates with understanding peers.
Teach social skills through role-playing or social stories.
Celebrate small victories to build self-esteem.
Seek support groups for families to share experiences and advice.
Emotional support at home creates a safe space for your child to express themselves.
Managing Daily Life and Routines
Consistency helps children with developmental delays feel secure. Establish clear routines for:
Mealtimes and snacks, especially important for children with PICA.
Bedtime rituals to improve sleep quality. Children have to be in bed fore 8:00PM.
Homework and learning activities.
Breaks and physical activity to manage energy levels.
Use visual schedules or timers to help your child understand and anticipate daily events.
Taking Care of Yourself as a Caregiver
Supporting a child with developmental delays can be demanding. Remember to:
Seek respite care or help from family and friends.
Join parent support groups to connect with others facing similar challenges who are not drowning as victims but those who believe that they can help their child thrive by using resources that promote sustainability and improvements of health.
Prioritize your own mental and physical health.
Celebrate your child’s progress, no matter how small.
Your well-being directly impacts your ability to support your child effectively.
Book a session here: https://www.sciongreenwellness.com/booking
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