Developmental Screening
What is child development?
A child's growth is more than just physical. Children grow,
develop, and learn throughout their lives, starting at birth.
A child's development can be followed by how they play,
learn, speak, and behave.
What is a developmental delay?
Will my child just grow out of it?
Skills such as taking a first step, smiling for the first time, and
waving "bye bye" are called developmental milestones.
Children reach milestones in playing, learning, speaking,
behaving, and moving (crawling, walking, etc.). A
developmental delay is when your child does not reach these
milestones at the same time as other children the same age. If
your child is not developing properly, there are things you can
do that may help. Most of the time, a developmental problem
is not something your child will "grow out of" on his or her own.
But with help, your child could reach his or her full potential!
What is developmental screening?
Doctors and nurses use developmental screening to tell if
children are learning basic skills when they should, or if they
might have problems. Your child's doctor may ask you
questions or talk and play with your child during an exam to
see how he or she learns, speaks, behaves, and moves. Since
there is no lab or blood test to tell if your child may have a
delay, the developmental screening will help tell if your child
needs to see a specialist.
Why is developmental screening
important?
When a developmental delay is not recognized early,
children must wait to get the help they need. This can
make it hard for them to learn when they start school.
In the United States, 17 percent of children have a
developmental or behavioral disability such as autism,
intellectual disability (also known as mental retardation),
or Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
In addition, many children have delays in language or other areas. But, less than half of children with problems are identified before starting school. During this time, the child could have received help for these problems and may even have entered school more ready to learn.
Next: I have concerns that my child could have a developmental delay. Whom can I contact in my state to get a developmental assessment for my child? »
- Sleep - Read about how to get a healthy nights sleep, how much sleep is enough, and why skimping on sleep can lead to poor performance, health, and moods.
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder - Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms include impulsivity and inattention. Get information on causes, diagnosis, treatment, medications and research.
- Autism - Learn about the 3 symptoms associated with autism: impairment in social interaction, communication, and behavior. Causes, signs, diagnosis, and treatment information is also included in the autism spectrum disorders information.
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