For example, children who have problems in expressive language frequently show more aggressive behavior than the average child, because of the frustration of being unable to speak and understand as well as others. Other delays are irregular and hard to classify. In any case, the label or diagnosis is not as important as a thorough understanding of the child's development. A number and a label from a diagnostic manual mean relatively little. A thorough understanding of the child's current strengths, weaknesses, developmental history, and family are the true guides for helping.
Developmental problems can strongly influence a child's self-esteem and social skills.
When difficult temperament causes cycles of negative behavior, professional help can be necessary to put family relationships on a more positive course. It is important to do thorough developmental assessment as early as possible when problems are detected. Parents are sometimes urged to wait until the child is older, but this can cause the child to lose invaluable time to get help during critical years. Understanding development requires far more than collecting the traditional developmental milestones, such as when the child sat up, walked, said the first words, etc. A careful and detailed developmental history is essential, since the child's parents know him or her better than anyone.