As a child ages, she reaches certain developmental milestones, and if arriving late at a milestone, may have a developmental delay. A developmental delay may indicate that a child has a disability. When performing a developmental screening, the medical professional may use a checklist that shows the different milestones the child should have reached.
Developmental Areas
The National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities explains that a developmental delay checklist covers five types of developmental areas. The communication developmental area deals with the child's speech and language abilities. Physical development involves gross motor skills, such as walking, and fine motor skills, such as writing. The adaptive development area deals with how the child takes care of himself. When looking at cognitive development, the medical professional will investigate the child's intellectual abilities. The last developmental area, social or emotional development, includes the child's social skills and how he controls his emotions.
Time Frame
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) points out that children reach important developmental milestones from the time they are born to age 5. Developmental delays may occur at any point during this time frame. Parents worried about a developmental delay can seek different resources depending on the child's age. Besides a developmental pediatrician, options include a local early intervention agency for children under age 3 and the public school for children age 3 and over.
Function
The developmental delay checklist's function is to identify any possible disabilities so the child can receive proper treatment. The CDC notes that 17 percent of children in the United States have some type of disability that affects behavior, intellect or development. Disabilities that may cause developmental delays include autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and intellectual disability. A developmental delay checklist can identify reversible problems, such as hearing loss caused by chronic ear infections.
Identification
The medical professional will identify the developmental delays by interacting with the child. The medical professional may talk and play with the child, observing how the child moves and responds. The developmental screening may also include asking the parents questions about the child and worries that they have. The CDC points out that no lab work will show if a child has a developmental delay.
Benefits
If the medical professional does identify a developmental delay, then the child can get the help she needs. The earlier the developmental delay is found, the sooner the child can receive the proper intervention. If the developmental delay interferes in the child's ability to do work in school, she may qualify for special education. Under the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA), children with disabilities receive an individualize education plan, which includes goals and outlines for education based on the specific needs of the child.
