How Do You Identify Developmental Delays in Children?

Developmental delays or developmental disabilities are somewhat common in children.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about one in six children in the United States has one or another kind of developmental delay or developmental disability.

The identification and treatment of children with learning or developmental impairments are of great concern to parents as well as caregivers. Developmental disabilities encompass a broad range of conditions that result from cognitive (brain) and physical impairments.

• They are identified in early childhood and usually last throughout a person's lifetime.
• These disabilities include intellectual disabilities, physical disabilities, language and learning disorders, vision impairment, and hearing.
• Delays in these areas might be observed by parents at home, physicians during routine wellness checks, or preschool teachers when monitoring play and learning activities.

Since a developmental delay can affect the further acquisition of appropriate skills in one or more areas, it is important to recognize possible delays, determine their causes and address them quickly.

Physical signs of possible developmental delay if the baby

• Doesn't use or move their legs and arms
• Seems to have trouble seeing or hearing things
• Can't hold their head up by the time they are 3-4 months old
• Isn't sitting well by 10 months of age
• Doesn't want to stand up, even when supported, at 12 months of age

Behavioral signs of possible developmental delay if the baby

• Has an unusual cry, for example, a high-pitched squeal.
• Cries for more than three hours a day, especially after three to four months of age.

Social, emotional, and communication signs of possible developmental delay if the baby

• Doesn't seem to be interested in what's happening around them
• Doesn't make eye contact
• Doesn't consistently respond to sounds
• Isn't babbling by nine months of age
• Is using fewer than five words at 18 months of age

If a delay is suspected, a full developmental assessment will be suggested. Developmental screenings can take place in a physician's office. The developmental evaluation should be conducted by a highly trained professional who can use the results to create a profile of the child's strengths and weaknesses across the range of five developmental areas.

1. Physical development (fine motor skills, gross motor skills)
2. Cognitive development (intellectual abilities)
3. Communication development (speech and language)
4. Social or emotional development (social skills, emotional control)
5. Adaptive development (self-care skills)

Investigations conducted at the clinic for the diagnosis of developmental delays are

• Taking note of the child's detailed history, head-to-toe examination, and weight and height plotted in a graph.
• The head circumference (occipitofrontal circumference) to assess brain growth.
• Hearing assessment if there are concerns about hearing (such as poor response to name when called) by a trained audiologist. Various hearing tests and brain stem audiometry may be conducted.
• Vision assessment of the child who has a visible cataract, is not fixing the eyes on an object, and has a history of frequent bumping into objects.
• Full blood count (possible iron deficiency), bone mineral profile and vitamin D levels (if rickets is suggested), thyroid function tests, urea levels, and electrolyte levels are also measured.
• The child may be given a set of tests to perform to be assessed for self-care skills, cognitive development, and speech development.

The results of a developmental evaluation will be used to decide if the child needs early intervention services and a treatment plan. Early intervention services are specifically tailored to meet a child's individual needs. They are especially important resources for children experiencing developmental delays. For example, early intervention services can include the following:

• Assistive technology (devices a child might need)
• Audiology or hearing services
• Speech and language services
• Counseling and training for a family
• Medical services
• Nursing services
• Nutrition services
• Occupational therapy
• Physical therapy
• Psychological services