Catch-Up

Parents often think that a child can be stimulated to catch-up and then perform at the same level as other children of a similar age. This does not generally happen, as it requires development at a faster rate than normal. Most delayed children make steady progress at a slower rate than other children of the same age, and make predictable gains in learning, but never ‘catchup’.

The case for children with LKS is different. These children generally had normal early development, and were increasing their skills at the normal rate. Following a period of regression, they may well appear to ‘catch-up’ and learn at an increased rate, often in response to steroids. What is actually happening, however, is recovery of their previous developmental path.

Unfortunately this is not always the case in LKS, and at the end of the active phase of the disease, children or adolescents are often left with residual impairments. They may then make steady developmental progress but never regain their previous rate of learning. However there is some evidence of continuing recovery of skills into their 20’s, hence they should have priority for continuing further education.

Regression is the loss of previously acquired skills, so the child appears to have returned to an earlier stage in their development. It can be uneven, and leave the child with retained isolated skills from their previous developmental level, which can mask their losses.