Gulala Salih, 32, noticed something unusual when her eldest son turned one. "He was very angry and cried a lot," so she decided to take him to the doctor.
By the time he was three years old, the child could not even form a sentence. Now, at nine years old and in second grade, doctors have informed his parents that his brain development is three years behind. He is currently receiving special training and there is hope for improvement when he turns 12 years-old.
In recent years, there has been an increase in the number of public and private centers for training children with brain developmental delays.
In recent years, dozens of public and private centers for training children with brain developmental delays have been opened and are increasing, along with the increase in the number of children with brain developmental delays.
A developmental delay is when your child doesn’t reach their developmental milestones as expected. It usually means your child is developing certain skills slower than their peers.
Developmental delays in children can manifest as delays in reaching milestones in various areas, including cognitive, social, emotional, and motor skills, says Clivland Clinic, a century old nonprofit multispecialty academic medical center that integrates clinical and hospital care with research and education.
“These delays can stem from a variety of factors, including genetic conditions, prenatal complications, and environmental influences.”
Shokhan Salih Ahmad, a teacher in a primary school in Sulaimaniya, stated that out of 250 students in their school, they have 15 children with brain development problems.
“Some parents deny that their child has the problem, but they only understand when they receive a medical report."
No one in Gulala's family has had brain developmental delays, so she is eager to hear from doctors the reasons behind her child's disease.
Gulala's house in Darbandikhan district, Sulaimaniyah province, is located on a busy street with traffic, which health experts believe is one of the causes of air pollution, especially when mothers breathe polluted air during pregnancy.
Nashmil Rasul, a mental health specialist, explains that climate change has had a significant impact on human life and health, including children with brain development issues.
"Increased carbon dioxide in the air affects concentration, problem-solving abilities, thinking skills, and memory."
According to the World Health Organization WHO, school-age children with learning disabilities make up 15 percent of all children worldwide.
Naza, a 37-year-old woman, shared that her third child, with down syndrome, who is only two years old, had to be under oxygen for a day when he was born. Subsequently, he did not reach developmental milestones typical for his age, such as holding his neck, touching things, and moving slowly.
A child holds his neck at three to four months old and can sit up completely at eight to nine months.
Naza's house in the center of Sulaimaniya is only 50 meters from the neighborhood electricity generator, and the office where she works is also only 50 meters from her office.
Ninety percent of people breathe polluted air, including Iraq, which is one of the "most polluted" countries in the world, according to IQAir, a Swiss air quality technology company. The World Health Organization WHO warns that indoor and outdoor air pollution poses a threat to adults' lives and the climate, causing premature deaths of seven million people worldwide annually.
A study published in the Kiboko journal, as part of the One Health Project, revealed that diesel fumes from generators and cars, along with smoke from burning plastic, may contribute to brain development delays and autism in children.
Kiboko is non-profit organization that implements workshops, exhibitions, and cultural exchange programs. Incorporated in New York, since 1999, it has sponsored many programs globally: the most recent projects have centered more on health and the environment.
The study indicated that particles from diesel fumes can impact children's memory, learning, and behavior.
"Children who live near smoke are at greater risk," the study concluded.
