What Is Developmental Delay?

Many factors may contribute to developmental delays. Identifying developmental milestones and understanding the causes of developmental delays can significantly reduce the delay or lead to its prevention.

Types

• Developmental delays often are the result of a genetic, visual, auditory, neurobehavioral, social/emotional, neurological, metabolic or a type of language disorder. Birth defects and brain trauma can also contribute to developmental delays.

Identification

• Maintaining infant and child well health checkups with the pediatrician and tracking developmental milestones can help aid in identifying the early onset of a developmental delay. Delay or difficulty exhibiting self-help skills, fine and gross motor development, social/emotional skills or impaired sensory and cognitive skills often indicate a developmental delay.

Causes

• A developmental delay can be caused by environmental factors, such as child abuse or neglect. Disease and family genetics may be a contributing factor. Maternal risk factors during pregnancy and neonatal events at birth may also result in developmental delays.

Considerations

• Developmental delays with language development may be the result of hearing loss, visual impairment or a language processing deficit. Testing may need to be performed by an audiologist, optometrist, speech/language pathologist or a neuropsychologist.

Prevention/Solution

• Often an underlying disability may be the result of a developmental delay. The earlier a diagnosis and treatment is sought, better is the outcome for self-esteem and the prevention of further delays.