S. Nyamshur: Some parents unintentionally worsen developmental delays by saying, “Our family members are quiet by nature, so our children start talking late”
Since March 2024, Save the Children, with support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, has been implementing the project “Promoting Sustainable, Holistic and Inclusive Developmental Support in Early Childhood in Mongolia” in the Bayanzurkh, Chingeltei, and Songinokhairkhan districts of Ulaanbaatar, as well as in Bayankhongor and Selenge provinces. The project aims to introduce a model for sustainable, holistic and inclusive early childhood development support within targeted local public institutions, such as family health centers, branch commissions, and kindergartens. Furthermore, the project seeks to integrate effective practices into national and local policies and to strengthen the legal framework.
S. Nyamshur, Director of “Eeltei” Family Health Centre
A child’s brain development progresses most rapidly between the ages of 0–5. Therefore, identifying developmental delays as early as possible and taking timely action leads to far more effective rehabilitation and developmental support. If intervention is delayed, the child may begin to exhibit learning difficulties and various behavioral problems, which can eventually escalate and pose risks not only for the family but also for social interaction. I hold a master’s degree in a medical specialty and am a senior-level physician. I currently serve as the director of the “Eeltei” Family Health Center. In the health sector, we work in a coordinated way across all levels to support children with developmental delays. For example, our center conducts regular growth and developmental screenings for children. When signs of developmental delay are detected, the child is referred to the step hospital for a specialist consultation and diagnostic confirmation.
From there, the child can receive appropriate therapies such as speech and physiotherapy, psychological services, or special education support. However, the most important part of this process is guiding parents and caregivers correctly. It is quite common to see parents unable to accept their child’s autism or developmental delay, which only worsens the situation. For instance, there was a case where parents of a child diagnosed with a speech delay did not enroll them in necessary interventions, saying, “Our family members are quiet, so our children naturally talk late. This issue will go away on its own.” Many parents avoid professional examinations and monitoring and lose valuable time by relying solely on their own observations. Simply put, the earlier the intervention, the better the results. I urge all parents to prevent potential risks and take advantage of early opportunities to support their child’s growth and development.