Focus
- Developmental delay is the loss of skills that a child has learned.
- The loss of skills can be complete or partial. It can be rapid or slow.
- The signs of developmental delay are related to the child’s age or developmental stage.
- If you are concerned about developmental delays, talk to your child’s home health nurse or doctor. Treatment for developmental delays depends on the skills the child is missing.
About developmental delays
Developmental delays occur when a child loses one or more of the skills they have learned, such as walking or talking. Developmental delays can occur at any age. This can lead to a serious health problem.
The loss of skills can be lifelong—for example, a child may stop speaking many words. The loss of skills is only a part of the process—for example, a child may lose some words and not learn others to replace them.
The loss of skills can be rapid or slow. For example, a child may stop talking for a day or a few months.
Developmental regression does not mean that a child stops using certain skills when they develop advanced skills, such as when a baby walks instead of crawling. It also does not mean that a child loses skills due to problems or life events, but that they regress. This may happen, for example, when a 4-year-old child begins to talk to a baby after the death of his parents, but over time, his ability to speak returns.
Developmental delay is different from developmental delay. However, children who are developmentally delayed can also have developmental delays.
Developmental delay is also known as the loss of skills or the loss of developmental milestones.
Signs of developmental delay
Children develop different skills at different ages. This means that the signs of developmental delay are related to your child’s age or developmental stage.
Babies, Toddlers and Toddlers
Your child may have developmental disabilities if they have the following skills:
- Talking gibberish, making noise, making monologues, or using symbols
- A desire to play with other people
- Grab it, grab it, hold it in your fingers
- Crawling, standing, walking or moving.
- School children, teenagers and young adults
Your child may have developmental disabilities if they have the following skills:
- talk, talk, or use symbols
- understand verbal instructions or signs
- or interacting with other people
- Walk, run or move
- Put on or take off your clothes, tie your shoes, shower or brush your teeth
- Writing, reading, math, time management or organizational skills.
Diagnosing developmental delay in children and adolescents
The specialist will ask about your child’s loss of skills. For example, they might ask:
- What skills is your child missing?
- How long does it take to lose a skill?
- What skills did your child have before you disappeared?
The doctor may also ask what happens if your child loses these skills. You may want to find photos or videos of your child at this time to help you remember.
