However, parents often do not seek medical evaluation until early developmental milestones such as sitting, crawling, walking, independent feeding and talking are missed. Parents carry the child with BCH like a young infant and lay the child flat for dressing. As a result, the hypotonic child becomes a passive onlooker. The child with BCH also talks late due to facial muscle weakness. Nonverbal communication is frequently limited which is interpreted as low cognitive ability.
Diagnosis is a lengthy, grueling process for families.
When hypotonia is not progressive and no causes are found, the decision is often left to parents at what point they wish to stop looking for answers. The lack of a definitive diagnosis is a source of frustration for parents. Parents must also deal with their grief over the loss of a perfect child. Due to a limited ability to explore one s surroundings, cognitive development may be delayed. Family coping and intervention Parents of a child with BCH cope with many stresses.