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Seyon Occupational & Speech Therapy Centre logoSeyonOccupational & Speech Therapy Centre
Behaviour Therapy & Counselling

Developmental Delay Therapy

Coordinated early intervention across every developmental domain.

Suitable for ages 6 months – 8 years

Overview

Global developmental delay means a child is significantly behind in two or more areas — motor, speech, cognition, social or self-care. The most effective response is coordinated, intensive, early intervention.

At Seyon a single case manager coordinates occupational therapy, speech therapy, special education and behaviour support around one shared set of family goals, so your child is not treated in silos.

Signs your child may need this therapy

  • Milestones consistently reached much later than expected
  • Delay in both motor and speech development
  • Difficulty learning routines other children pick up quickly
  • Limited play skills for their age
  • Poor self-care independence
  • Concerns raised by a paediatrician or preschool

Benefits of Developmental Delay Therapy

  • Faster progress across multiple developmental domains
  • A single coordinated plan instead of fragmented therapy
  • Improved daily-living independence
  • Better communication and social participation
  • Readiness for mainstream or supported schooling
  • Clear, measurable progress reporting

Treatment process

  1. STEP 1

    Behaviour assessment

    Structured parent and teacher interviews, standardised rating scales (Vanderbilt, CBCL) and direct observation to identify triggers, patterns and the function of each behaviour.

  2. STEP 2

    Functional behaviour plan

    We define target behaviours in measurable terms and design antecedent strategies, replacement skills and reinforcement schedules — never punishment-based methods.

  3. STEP 3

    Skill-building sessions

    Individual and small-group sessions teaching emotional vocabulary, self-calming routines, waiting, turn-taking, flexible thinking and conflict resolution.

  4. STEP 4

    Parent coaching

    Six-session parent management training covering consistent instructions, planned ignoring, reward systems and de-escalation, with live practice and troubleshooting.

  5. STEP 5

    School collaboration

    With your consent we share strategies with class teachers and support schools with classroom accommodations and IEP inputs.

  6. STEP 6

    Data-based review

    Behaviour frequency and intensity are charted every week, so decisions to intensify, change or fade support are based on data, not impressions.

FAQ

Developmental Delay Therapy — your questions answered

Not sure where to start? Begin with an assessment.

One hour with our team gives you a clear picture of your child's development and a written plan you can act on — whether or not you continue therapy with us.