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At Children’s Health, our pediatric neurologists have vast experience diagnosing and treating all forms of developmental delay in children. Our nationally recognized care team can work with you and your family to support children with a wide range of conditions.
Developmental delay refers to the mild, moderate or severe delays that children may have in a number of areas, including learning to walk and talk. Some developmental delays are very common in children. They usually don’t mean that a child has a serious illness.
While children develop at different paces, parents may notice that their child seems to be meeting milestones later than other children. These delays can be physical and social, and they may affect communication skills as well.
Although developmental delays are common, our specialists take all delays very seriously. We work with all children to identify those who may be at risk for long-term problems.
At 5 years and younger, we look for delays in:
After age 5, we watch how well children do in school, mainly the ability to learn to:
Your pediatrician may refer you to a child neurologist if they suspect that your child is experiencing developmental delays. The neurologist will take a full medical history of the family and the child. They will use a wide range of tests to measure a child’s development precisely.
They may also run tests to understand why a child might be developing at a different pace. We might use imaging tests to determine if your child has a central nervous system disorder. Using blood samples, we might do genetic tests or look for metabolic disorders.
If your child is experiencing developmental delays, it can be helpful to get a diagnosis early so they can start treatment as soon as possible.
Delayed development can be caused by many factors, including:
Once we have a precise diagnosis, we use a wide range of therapies to address each child’s specific needs. Treatments include:
Your care team at Children’s Health℠ may include a wide range of specialists who can work with your child.
Some developmental delays can last throughout a person’s life. We are dedicated to working with your family so that your child can lead as independent and happy a life as possible.
Children have delayed development for a variety of reasons, including genetics and exposure to toxins. We will try to provide a precise diagnosis. Then, we will work with your family to support your child in terms of their environment, their schooling, needed treatment and medication that may be helpful.
We now have the option of seeing your child virtually through telehealth for follow-up visits. If there are new concerns or if your child has had physical changes, you would need to come to Children’s Health in person.