“Guess what? Tommy took his first step yesterday!” A lady said excitedly to her friend, sitting beside her and holding a baby in her arms.
“That’s exciting. I cannot wait for this one to sleep through the night.” Her friend responded while looking at her baby with deep affection.
The above exchange I heard at a coffee shop is a typical conversation among parents who are proud and happy about their children’s growth progress. On the other hand, it can be nerve-racking for parents to see their children behind in developing specific abilities like other children of the same age.
Every child develops at a different pace, but most children develop according to a predictable timetable. Developmental milestones are a set of skills that most children can achieve within a specific age range. For example, most children can begin to sit with some help, respond to their own name, and know familiar faces by seven months old. At one year old, most children can walk holding onto furniture, say “mama” and “dada,” and explore things by banging, shaking, or throwing. Some children, however, experience delays in developing the skills expected by a certain age.
Definition
Developmental delays occur when children continually miss the milestones, failing to develop the skills expected of them according to the established developmental stage.
However, the developmental milestones are not set in stone. A child may grow faster in one area but slower in another. Two children born on the same day may reach the same milestone at different times. Most parents would tell you that their children developed the same skills at different ages. Babies and children experience growth spurts when they learn new things quickly. Sometimes, children may have “setbacks” when they are sick or experience changes and stresses in their environment. Some children may take a little longer to develop new skills but catch up later. Therefore, it may not be the best way to compare your child with another without considering all the factors.
Developmental milestones serve as markers or checkpoints to show parents how their children progress in their development. It is crucial to contact your child’s pediatrician if you notice your child’s development slows down, stops, or even reverses.1
As parents, you know your child the best. If you are concerned about your child’s development, do not hesitate to seek professional help. Trust your instinct.
Types
Developmental milestones are categorized into four different types called domains.2 Developmental delays align with these four domains of development.
- Social/Emotional
This domain focuses on how children interact with others, show emotions, and communicate needs. A child with social or emotional delays may avoid eye contact, insist on a rigid routine, or have difficulty understanding social cues.
- Language/Communication
This domain centers on how children understand and use languages to express themselves and understand what others communicate. A child with language and communication delays may have difficulty producing certain sounds, forming sentences, or making conversations.
- Cognitive (learning, thinking, problem-solving)
This domain concerns children’s ability to learn new skills, understand new concepts, and solve problems. A child with cognitive delays may have trouble with logical thinking, learning at school, and developing new skills.
- Physical/Movement
This domain involves how children use their bodies and develop gross and fine motor skills. A child with physical delays may struggle to coordinate large muscle groups to roll over, pull up, or walk. Delays in fine motor skills interfere with the coordination of small muscles involving movements such as grasping, picking up small objects, writing, or tying shoes.
Global Developmental Delay
A global developmental delay happens when children under five have significant delays in two or more developmental domains described above.3
Developmental Delays vs. Developmental Disabilities
Developmental delays and developmental disabilities are not the same. A developmental delay means a child is not meeting developmental milestones and is continually behind in gaining new skills, as expected by other children of the same age.
Most developmental delays will resolve on their own as children grow over time. It means a child may develop certain skills slower than their typically developing peers. But the child eventually catches up, especially with early invention and support.4
Developmental disabilities, on the other hand, are lifelong. Even though they are lifelong, with proper support and early intervention, children with developmental disabilities can still progress, thrive, and enjoy a full life.
Causes
Developmental delays affect children of all races, ethnicities, and socioeconomic backgrounds. There is no one cause for developmental delays. The contributing factors can occur before, during, or after birth. These factors include genetics, parental health during pregnancy, complications during birth, premature birth, childhood illness or trauma, or exposure to environmental toxins. Sometimes, the cause is unknown.
Diagnosis
Your child’s pediatrician is a great first resource for any concerns you may have about your child’s development. The pediatrician’s office also performs developmental screening during the well-child visits.
Screening
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends developmental and behavioral screening for all children during well-child visits at 9, 18, 24, and 30 months.5 Parents will complete formal questionnaires or checklists about the child’s development, including movement, communication, behavior, emotions, and thinking.6
This initial screening is not detailed enough to provide a diagnosis, but it can offer valuable information. The result will show whether a child needs further testing. The pediatrician will refer the child to a specialist for more in-depth evaluations when the screening result identifies an area or areas of concern.
Evaluation
The developmental evaluation takes an in-depth assessment of the child’s development. The evaluation is done by a trained specialist. The specialist will use the evaluation results to create a profile for the child and determine whether the child needs early invention services and/or a treatment plan.7
Concluding Word
It can be upsetting to discover that your child has a developmental delay. However, most developmental delays can be addressed and resolved with early intervention, specific therapies, proper accommodations, and adequate support. Reaching out to your child’s pediatrician if you have any concerns about your child’s development. Developmental evaluations and early treatment can help your child to catch up and thrive.
1. Yale Medicine. “Developmental Delay.” Accessed September 24, 2023. https://www.yalemedicine.org/conditions/developmental-delay.
2. “Training Module 2 | Watch Me! | Learn the Signs. Act Early. | NCBDDD | CDC.” Accessed September 26, 2023. https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/watchmetraining/module2.html.
3. Habibullah, Hafiz, Raidah Albradie, and Shahid Bashir. “Identifying Pattern in Global Developmental Delay Children: A Retrospective Study at King Fahad Specialist Hospital, Dammam (Saudi Arabia).” Pediatric Reports 11, no. 4 (December 2, 2019): 8251. https://doi.org/10.4081/pr.2019.8251.
4. Cleveland Clinic. “Developmental Delay in Children.” Accessed September 18, 2023. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/14814-developmental-delay-in-children.
5. “Developmental Delay | Children’s Hospital Colorado.” Accessed August 19, 2023. https://www.childrenscolorado.org/conditions-and-advice/conditions-and-symptoms/conditions/developmental-delay/.
6. CDC. “Developmental Monitoring and Screening | CDC.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, February 14, 2023. https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/childdevelopment/screening.html.
7. Ibid.