Does My Child Have a Developmental Delay?

“He hasn’t rolled over yet?”

“Aren’t kids usually talking by now?”

People may not mean to be insensitive when they ask you questions like these. But it can still be upsetting to see other kids passing milestones before your child does.

Not meeting these types of milestones isn’t always a sign that your child has a developmental delay. If it turns out he does have a delay, however, getting supports and services early may help him catch up more quickly.

Basics About Development and Delays

Kids don’t develop skills on a strict timetable. For example, some babies start walking as young as 9 months, while others don’t take their first steps until 15 months. Both of those babies are within the range of typical development. Those types of short-lived delays—when kids catch up on their own—aren’t usually cause for concern.

But a developmental delay is more than just being “slower to develop” or “a little behind.” It means your child is continually behind in skills other kids his age have.

For example, a baby who isn’t rolling over by 4 months may be just a little behind in that one skill. But if he also isn’t able to hold his head up and push up when lying on his tummy, he’s behind in more than one motor skill. That’s a sign of a developmental delay. (If you’re noticing this in your child, there are many ways to help.)

Five Areas of Skill Development and Possible Delay

A developmental delay can occur in just one area or in a few. A global developmental delay is when kids have delays in at least two areas.

Kids develop skills in five main areas of development:

1. Cognitive (or thinking) skills: This is the ability to think, learn and solve problems. In babies, this looks like curiosity. It’s how your child explores the world around him with his eyes, ears and hands. In toddlers, it also includes things like learning to count, naming colors and learning new words.
2. Social and emotional skills: This is the ability to relate to other people such as being able to express and control emotions. In babies, it means smiling at others and making sounds to communicate. In toddlers and preschoolers, it means being able to ask for help, show and express feelings and get along with others.
3. Speech and language skills: This is the ability to use and understand language. For babies, this includes cooing and babbling. In older children, it includes understanding what’s said and using words correctly and in ways that others can understand.
4. Fine and gross motor skills: This is the ability to use small muscles, particularly in the hands, and large muscles in the body. Babies use fine motor skills to grasp objects. Toddlers and preschoolers use them to do things like hold utensils, work with objects and draw. Babies use gross motor skills to sit up, roll over and begin to walk. Older children use them to do things like jump, run and climb stairs.
5. Activities of daily living: This is the ability to handle everyday tasks. For children, that includes eating, dressing and bathing themselves.

There is no one cause of developmental delays, but some risk factors include:

• Complications at birth: Being born too early (prematurely); low birth weight; not getting enough oxygen at birth.
• Environmental issues: Lead poisoning; poor nutrition; exposure to alcohol or drugs before birth; difficult family situations; trauma.
• Other medical conditions: Chronic ear infections; vision problems; illnesses, conditions, or injuries that have a significant and long-term effect on a child’s day-to-day activities.

If your child is showing signs of a developmental delay in any of the areas mentioned above, it is important to get him evaluated by the pediatrician and start interventions as soon as possible for the best possible outcome.