Developmental Delay
Developmental delay is defined as failure to meet expected developmental milestones in one or more of the following areas: physical, social, emotional, intellectual, speech and language and/or adaptive development (sometimes called self-help skills, which include dressing, toileting, feeding, etc).
It is diagnosed when a child performs approximately 25 to 30% below age norms in one or more of these areas (with adjustment for prematurity in affected children). Progress occurs at a slower than expected rate following the anticipated sequence. Various medical and environmental causes exist.
Some examples of physical or mental disorders likely to result in delayed developmental are: chromosomal abnormalities; genetic or congenital disorders; severe sensory impairments, including hearing and vision; inborn errors of metabolism; disorders reflecting disturbance of the development of the nervous system; congenital infections; and disorders secondary to exposure to toxic substances, including fetal alcohol syndrome.
The verification of delay is obtained through an evaluation process which includes at least three of the following: informed clinical opinion to include observational assessment, standardized development test(s), developmental inventory, behavioral checklist, adaptive behavior measure, and parent interview. Developmental delay can occur temporarily or it can be long-term and never fully resolve.
Examples, Subsets and Synonyms for Developmental Delay
- Language Delay
- Motor Delay
- Global Delay
Related Marcus Autism Center Clinical Programs
Pediatric Feeding Disorders
Program
Early Intervention Program
Pediatric Neurodevelopmental
Center
Additional Resources:
Children and Adults with Attention Deficit Disorders
(www.chadd.org)
International Dyslexia Society
(www.interdys.org)
National Information Center for Children and Youth with Disabilities
(www.nichcy.org)
Learning Disabilities--LD online
(www.ldonline.org)
Integration of resources for families with disabilities
(www.familyvillage.wisc.edu)
Children with Special Health Care Needs Knowledge Path
(http://www.ncemch.org/)
National Brain Injury Association
(www.biausa.org)
National Association of School Psychologists
(www.nasponline.org/)
The Association for Behavior Analysis
(www.abainternational.org/)
The American Psychological Association
(www.apa.org/)
AAMR
(www.aamr.org)
The Association for Advancement of Behavior Therapy
(www.aabt.org/)
Cambridge Center for Behavioral Studies
(www.behavior.org/)
The Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis
(http://seab.envmed.rochester.edu/jaba/)
Interactive Autism Network
(www.IANproject.org)