By early 2018, Parth was three years old. Until then, we saw him as a cheerful, active child who loved to laugh, clap, and bring joy to our home. But slowly, small concerns began to grow in our hearts.
We noticed that Parth was extremely sensitive to sounds. The mixer in the kitchen, the whistle of the pressure cooker, or any sudden loud noise would frighten him. He would cover his ears, cling to us, or try to hide in a pillow or bury his face into ours, crying until he felt safe again. Everyday sounds that most children ignored seemed unbearable for him.
Darkness, too, made him anxious. If the lights went out, he would panic, hold onto us tightly, and sometimes cry for hours if the electricity failed. Even a dimly lit room felt unsafe to him.
Speech was another area that worried us. While other children his age were beginning to speak in sentences, Parth’s words came slowly. He tried, but the progress felt delayed. He often communicated more with sounds, gestures, or cries than with clear words.
Physically, he was healthy and strong. He ran, climbed, and played like any other child. But developmentally, something felt different. As parents, we began to wonder if this was just a phase or if it was something more. Many nights were spent in quiet discussion, asking ourselves the same questions again and again: Should we wait and hope he catches up? Or should we consult a doctor?
At that time, we had no clear answers. Only questions. What we did know was that Parth was not growing in the same way as other children around him. This was the beginning of our journey into the unknown, a journey filled with worry, but also with determination to understand our son better.