Lesson 1Early intervention principles and evidence-based therapies: parent-mediated interventions, physical therapy goals, speech-language interventionsThis part checks main early help rules, stressing brain flexibility, goal making, and family care. It covers parent-led ways, body therapy aims, and talk-language methods fit for babies and toddlers in Eritrea.
Neuroplasticity and timing of interventionFamily-centered and strengths-based careDesigning functional, measurable therapy goalsParent-mediated interaction and play coachingEarly motor therapy aims and methodsEarly communication and language strategiesLesson 2Differential diagnosis and common causes of developmental delay: prematurity, genetic conditions, hearing loss, cerebral palsy, autism spectrum disorder, environmental factorsThis part checks big causes of growth delay in early child years, like early birth, gene issues, brain palsy, autism, sense losses, and surroundings, and gives a useful way to sort diagnoses in Eritrean clinics.
Impact of prematurity and perinatal eventsRecognizing patterns of genetic syndromesCerebral palsy: early signs and subtypesAutism spectrum features under age threeHearing and vision loss as contributorsEnvironmental and psychosocial risk factorsLesson 3Initial evaluation and targeted investigations: hearing and vision screening, growth/nutrition assessment, basic labs, neuroimaging indications, genetic testing triggersThis part covers first check of a child with thought delay, including full history, exam, ear and eye screens, growth and food review, and signs for tests, brain scans, and gene checks in basic Eritrean care.
Key elements of developmental historyFocused neurologic and physical examinationHearing and vision screening in young childrenGrowth, nutrition, and feeding assessmentIndications for basic laboratory testingWhen to order imaging or genetic studiesLesson 4Clinic workflows for developmental surveillance: documentation templates, screening schedules, referral tracking, and community resourcesThis part shows how to make good clinic flows for growth watching, with standard records, screen times, referral following, and links to early help and community family aids in Eritrea.
Standardized developmental documentationAge-based screening and surveillance schedulesEmbedding tools into electronic recordsReferral tracking and feedback loopsLinking families to community resourcesQuality improvement for surveillance processesLesson 5Referral pathways: when to refer to early intervention, developmental pediatrician, pediatric neurology, physiotherapy, speech therapy, audiology, and occupational therapyThis part lists clear referral levels and paths from basic care to early help, child growth doctors, brain specialists, body therapy, talk therapy, ear checks, and work therapy, stressing quick access and follow in Eritrea.
Criteria for early intervention referralWhen to refer to developmental pediatricsIndications for pediatric neurology referralReferral to PT, OT, and speech therapyAudiology and vision specialist pathwaysTracking outcomes of specialist referralsLesson 6Monitoring, milestone tracking, scheduling follow-ups, and coordinating multidisciplinary careThis part centers on long-term follow of at-risk kids, with step tracking, standard tools, visit times, team input linking, and steady care between medical and community services in Eritrean settings.
Using milestone checklists and tracking toolsDetermining follow-up intervals by risk levelCoordinating multidisciplinary care plansSharing information across care settingsAdjusting goals as the child developsSupporting family engagement over timeLesson 7Screening tools and structured developmental surveillance: Ages and Stages Questionnaires (ASQ), M-CHAT, Denver II — administration and interpretationThis part explains picking, doing, scoring, and reading common growth screen tools under three years, like ASQ, M-CHAT, Denver II, and fitting structured watching into regular child visits in Eritrea.
Choosing age-appropriate screening instrumentsAdministering and scoring the ASQUsing and interpreting the M-CHATApplying the Denver II in busy clinicsCommunicating screening results to familiesIntegrating surveillance into well-child visitsLesson 8Communicating developmental concerns to families: plain-language explanations, culturally sensitive counselling, setting expectationsThis part gives ways to talk growth worries with families using simple words, culture respect, and joint choices, while handling feelings, shame, and real hopes for advance in Eritrean contexts.
Preparing for difficult developmental conversationsUsing plain, non-stigmatizing languageCulturally responsive counseling approachesAddressing parental emotions and guiltDiscussing prognosis and goal settingProviding written summaries and resourcesLesson 9Normal neuropsychomotor milestone timeline to 36 months: motor, language, social, cognitive benchmarksThis part reviews normal body, talk, social, and thinking steps from birth to 36 months, noting expected ages, changes, and how to tell normal from patterns needing more watch in Eritrea.
Motor milestones from birth to three yearsLanguage and communication progressionSocial-emotional development trajectoryEarly cognitive and play skill milestonesRecognizing normal variation in timingUsing milestone charts during visitsLesson 10Red flags for referral: absent babbling/words, lack of social smile, poor eye contact, motor delays, loss of skills — what they mean clinicallyThis part lists key growth warning signs in babies and toddlers, like social, talk, and body issues. It clears their health meaning, need for speed, and sorting change from brain growth problem signs in Eritrea.
Early social and communication red flagsLanguage delay and absent babbling or wordsMotor delay, asymmetry, and abnormal toneRegression and loss of previously gained skillsWhen red flags require urgent referralDocumenting and tracking concerning signs
