Development Delays in Toddlers

As children grow, they are expected to reach certain physical and mental developmental standards with each phase of their life. As many as 17 percent of children in the United States have trouble reaching these milestones unassisted; often these children have some form of developmental delay. Every child is different, but parents need to be aware of their child's growing abilities and should contact their pediatrician if they have concerns about how their child is faring developmentally.

Signs

• According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, children should be able to walk and speak about 15 words by the time they are 18 months old. By the time they are 2, they should be able to speak in two- or three-word sentences and follow simple instructions. By the time they are in their third or fourth year, they should be engaging in fantasy play and able to perform basic physical tasks such as riding a tricycle or throwing a ball overhand. Children who are resisting or seemingly oblivious to these milestones might be suffering from developmental delay.

Causes

• Developmental delay in a child can be caused by hereditary conditions like Down's syndrome, autism or accidents in which a child has suffered brain trauma. Premature birth or risky behaviors by a mother during pregnancy can also affect childhood development. Physical abnormalities such as hearing loss can present as developmental delays, as a child with hearing problems will have difficulty learning to speak or interact with other children. In many cases, however, the cause of the problem is never determined.

Screening

• Parents and child-care providers are in the best position to notice potential delays in children as they spend the most time with them. Anything that seems atypical should be reported to the child's pediatrician. In addition, most doctors will perform their own screenings during routine physicals. Federal law requires that physicians refer families of children who might be developmentally delayed to a team of specialists that can provide a diagnosis and discuss a treatment plan with the family, free of charge.

Treatments and Interventions

• If a developmental delay cannot be easily corrected through surgery or medication, parents can work with doctors who specialize in developmental delays in toddlers to create a treatment plan. This plan might include sessions with behavioral or physical therapists or a change in home routine. As the child grows older, he might qualify for special education services through his local public school. Educators in these programs will work with parents to design an individualized plan for the child's education.