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What is developmental delay?
Developmental Delay is when your child does not reach
their developmental milestones at
the expected times. It is an ongoing, major delay in the process
of development. If your child is slightly or only temporarily
lagging behind, that is not called developmental delay. Delay can
occur in one or many areas—for example, motor, language,
social, or thinking skills.
Developmental Delay is usually a diagnosis made by a doctor based on strict guidelines. Usually, though, the parent is the first to notice that their child is not progressing at the same rate as other children the same age. If you think your child may be “slow,” or “seems behind,” talk
with their doctor about it. In some cases, your general pediatrician might pick up a delay during a well child visit or other meetings. It will probably take several visits and possibly a referral to a developmental specialist to be sure that the delay is not just a temporary lag. Special testing can also help gauge your child's developmental level.
The first three years of a child's life are an amazing time of development...and what happens during those years stays with a child for a lifetime. That's why it's so important to watch for signs of delays in development, and to get help from professionals if you suspect problems. The sooner a developmentally delayed child gets early intervention, the better their progress will be.
What causes developmental delay?
Developmental delay can have many different causes, such as genetic
causes (like Down
syndrome), or complications of pregnancy and birth (like prematurity or
infections). Often, however, the specific cause is unknown. Some
causes can be easily reversed if caught early enough, such as hearing
loss from chronic ear
infections, or lead
poisoning.
What should I do if I suspect my child has developmental delay?
If you think your child may be delayed, you should take them to
their primary care provider, or to a developmental and behavioral
pediatrician or pediatric neurologist. An alternative to seeing
a specialist is to work through your local school system (see below).
If your child seems to be losing ground—in other words, starts
to not be able to do things they could do in the past—you
should have them seen right away. If your child is developmentally
delayed, the sooner you get a diagnosis, the sooner you can begin
appropriate treatment and the better the progress your child can
make.
If you are concerned about your child's development, check out
First Signs, a website with information and resources for early
identification and intervention for children with developmental
delays and disorders. Explore the many resources for parents
available on the site.
What can the school system do for my child?
Ask your school system in writing for an evaluation of your child,
even if your child is a baby, toddler or preschooler. They are
required to provide it, at no cost to you. The purpose of an evaluation
is to find out why your child is not meeting their developmental
milestones or not doing well in school. A team of professionals
will work with you to evaluate your child. If they do not find
a problem, you can ask the school system to pay for an Independent
Educational Evaluation (IEE). There are strict rules about this,
so you may not get it. You can also have your child tested again
privately, and pay for it yourself. But check with your school
district first to make sure they will accept the private test results.
By law, the school system must consider the results of the second
evaluation when deciding if your child can get special services.
- New Visions
for Parents, from Zero to Three, is a guide for parents
who are concerned about their baby's, toddler's or preschooler's
development and learning. It will help you prepare for an
evaluation, and know what to expect. Use the red navigation bar at the top
of the New Visions screen to guide you through the materials.
- Basics
for Parents: Your Child's Evaluation explains what parents
of school-aged kids need to know about the evaluation process.
If testing shows your child has developmental delay, the
school system will start your child in either an early
intervention or a special
education program, depending on your child's
age.
What is early intervention?
Every state has an early intervention program that you will want
to get your child into right away. If you live in Michigan, your
doctor may refer you to the Early On Program in your local school
district. (Outside Michigan, you can find your
state's early intervention services through the NICHCY website.) Early On (and
all states' early intervention programs) offer many different
services and will help set up an individualized program for your
family. It is called an Individual
Family Service Plan (IFSB).
It is most important to start treatment as early as possible,
and make sure it involves lots of one-on-one interaction
with your child.
What is special education?
Special education means “educational programming designed specifically for the individual.” It can really help your child do better in school. If your school-aged child qualifies for special education, they will have an Individualized Education Program ( IEP) designed just for them.
What happens as my child grows up and eventually becomes an adult?
Transition planning is planning to get your child
ready to lead a rewarding life as an adult. As your child gets
closer to adulthood, they will need an IEP
transition plan. Transition planning begins at age 14. It
is part of the IEP every year after that. At age 16, planning will
begin for how your child will transition from school into the community.
The goal is for your child to become as independent as possible. Your
child should take part in the planning, because their input
will help make the plan more successful. For a thorough discussion
(37 pages when printed) of the transition plan, see Transition
Services in the IEP, from NICHCY.
What do I need to know about the laws that have to do with early intervention and special education? What are our rights?
What are some recommended books?
- Teaching the Young Child with Motor Delays: A Guide for
Parents and Professionals , by Marci Swanson and Susan Harris. This book is a useful guide in choosing development tasks to work on with your delayed child. It contains a lot of detail on breaking down large developmental goals into small, attainable steps. There is a large section devoted to outlining "objectives", giving suggestions on how to attain them, and examples of rewards. Uses clear and detailed examples.
- When Your Child Has a Disability: The Complete Sourcebook
of Daily and Medical Care , Revised Edition, by Mark Batshaw. A
useful book to read and keep as a reference. Covers a wide
range of medical and educational issues, as well as daily and long-term
care requirements of specific disabilities. Discusses parent concerns
like behavior, medication, and potential complications. Also addresses
issues such as prematurity, early intervention, legal rights, attention-deficit/hyperactivity
disorder, learning disabilities, genetic syndromes, and changes
in health.
What are some other resources for information and support?
Related topics on YourChild:
Other resources:
- Including
Your Child —an excellent on-line booklet from the US Department
of Education.
- Mental retardation —information
about mental retardation and related topics from The
Arc.
-
Exceptional Parent Magazine - provides information, support,
ideas, encouragement and outreach for parents and families of
children with disabilities, and the professionals who work with
them.
Spanish Language Resources:
Organizations:
- NICHCY (National Information Center for Children and Youth with Disabilities) publishes free, fact-filled newsletters, arranges workshops and speakers, and advises parents on the laws entitling children with disabilities to special education and other services. They also offer Spanish
language resources. Their state resource sheets have listings of government programs, disability organizations, and more. Call 1-800-695-0285.
- Early On Michigan is the state of Michigan's early intervention service. Call 1-800-EARLY-ON. If you live outside Michigan, NICHCY can help you find your own state's early intervention service.
- Parent Centers provide training and information to parents of children with disabilities—babies through young adults. This assistance helps parents better meet the educational needs of their children with disabilities. Find the Parent Training and Information Center near you. (You will need to scroll down a little on the page linked above to see a map of the United States. Then, click on your state to get a list of centers near you.)
- Zero
to Three is the nation's leading resource on the first
three years of life, with a mission to strengthen and support
families, practitioners and communities to promote the healthy
development of babies and toddlers.
- The Pathways
Awareness Foundation offers resources for parents of
children with physical movement developmental delays. Find
out where
to turn when you need more answers, and get information
(available in multiple languages) that will help if you’re concerned about
your baby.
- The Vanderbilt
Kennedy Center for Research on Human Development strives
to better understand human development, prevent and solve developmental
problems, and enable persons with developmental disabilities
to lead fuller lives in their communities.
- The ARC is a national organization of and for people with mental retardation and related developmental disabilities and their families. It is devoted to promoting and improving supports and services for people with mental retardation and their families.
- Project Perform is an information and support resource for families of children with special needs in Michigan. They have information folders on various disabilities and topics, a lending library, and can refer you to parent support groups. Call 1-800-552-4821.
- The Council for
Exceptional Children is a professional
organization dedicated to improving educational outcomes for
individuals with exceptionalities, students with disabilities,
and/or the gifted. Call 1-703-620-3660.
- NAPSEC (National Association of Private Schools for Exceptional Children) provides referrals for private special education programs. Call 1-202-408-3338.
- The American Association on Mental Retardation (AAMR)
promotes progressive policies, sound research, effective practices,
and universal human rights for people with intellectual disabilities.
Call 1-800-424-3688.
-
Best Buddies is dedicated to enhancing the lives of people with
intellectual disabilities by providing chances for one-to-one
friendships and integrated employment. Call 1-800-89-BUDDY.
Still have questions about this topic? Go to
our survey to ask your questions, and we’ll try
to answer them on an upcoming
YourChild podcast.
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Written and compiled by Kyla Boyse, R. N. Reviewed by faculty and staff at the University of Michigan
Updated October 2006
U-M Health System Related Sites:
U-M C.S. Mott Children's Hospital
Department of Psychiatry
U-M Pediatrics
Our editorial policy
The information and links we provide are reviewed by University of Michigan developmental and behavioral pediatricians and child psychologists who are experts in child behavioral health. In choosing the links we provide, we use strict criteria to ensure that the information is accurate, and the source is reputable. As much as possible, we focus on information that is based on research. In areas where there is inadequate research, we include information compatible with prevailing expert opinion.
This website is updated regularly, but because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, we cannot be responsible for misinformation that may be accessed through the links provided. As always, this website is not a tool for self-diagnosis, and is not a substitute for professional care.
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