| What Is a Developmental
Delay? The changes babies and toddlers go through are made
up of different skills, such as walking and talking. These skills, or developmental
milestones, usually happen by certain ages. A child with a developmental
delay is behind others the same age in one or more of the following areas:
Cognitive development
Physical development
Language or speech
Social or emotional skills
Self-help skills
While your child might be achieving his developmental milestones, the
quality of his skill may be of concern or he may exhibit "red flags"
such as:
Cognitive Development, as
demonstrated through play skills, such as knowing how to search for a
lost toy or make a toy move.
- Does not manipulate toys past 12 months, continues to bang toys
- Child withdraws from play
- Less varied play, lower developmental levels of play
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Motor Development, such as
crawling or picking up a small object.
- Tight muscle tone
- "Clumsy"
- Dragging body when crawling
- "W" sitting
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Communication Development,
such as talking or communicating with others.
- Hearing impairment
- Primary use of gestures rather than verbal communication
- Frequent ear infections
- Family history of communication delays
- Nasal sounding speech
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Social/Emotional Development,
such as interaction with others and coping behaviors.
- Dislikes hugging, kissing, holding, or cuddling
- Prefers solitary play
- Avoids eye contact
- Pinches, kicks, pushes, bumps, or otherwise hurts self or others
- Bangs head on purpose
- Irritable and/or inconsolable
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Self-help skills, such as eating, drinking or potty
training.
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