Signs and Examples of Developmental Delays in Children

Developmental delays can range from mild to severe and fall into five basic areas:

• Physical: Gross motor skills (large muscle groups like arms and legs), fine motor skills (small muscle groups like moving fingers and hands)
• Cognitive: Intellectual abilities, like verbal and non-verbal skills, attention, focus,  hand-eye coordination, and memory.
• Communication: Speech abilities and using spoken language to communicate.
• Social: Ability to collaborate and cooperate with others.
• Emotional: Ability to cope, control emotions, manage anger, and resolve conflict.

Delays can occur in all five of these areas or just one or some. Because each area is related to the others, if there is a delay in one it’s likely there will be some delay in other areas as well. For example, if there is a delay in language skills, a problem in cognitive development may coexist. Pediatricians and specialists conduct screening tests and in-depth evaluations to diagnose delays.

Developmental delays are diagnosed when a baby or child does not reach milestones around the expected time. Developmental milestones are sets of skills or behaviors that are typically exhibited by a certain age. The following information comes from the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Between ages 6 and 12, children generally become independent. Rapid change occurs physically, emotionally, socially, mentally, and morally. 

Mood swings are common as children go through puberty. Parents can help children with their development during this time by exhibiting patience, asking questions, and helping with problem-solving skills. Read signs and be aware of their social situations. Giving constant advice and lots of positive attention help children to navigate their future.

A variety of factors can contribute to developmental delays and disabilities.

A birth injury is any type of harm to a baby that occurs during or near to the time of birth (including in late pregnancy and early infancy). These complications at birth can cause brain injuries, which can affect a baby’s development. Birth injuries can result in lifelong complications and disabilities, like cerebral palsy or other developmental disorders.

Some complications during labor and delivery can cause developmental delays, including:

• hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). 
  • In many cases, babies with HIE go on to also develop cerebral palsy (CP) and a variety of other developmental disabilities.
• Delayed emergency C-section
• Placental issues
• Umbilical cord problems
• Fetal monitoring errors or mismanaged fetal distress
• maternal infections that spread to the baby
• Abnormal fetal position/presentation
• Infant Intracranial Hemorrhages (Brain Bleeds)
• Errors with Pitocin or Cytotec

In many cases, birth injuries are preventable. If medical professionals fail to provide adequate care, and this harms the baby, it constitutes medical malpractice.

Two commonly-known heritable conditions cause developmental delays:

• Down syndrome (Trisomy 21)
  • Children with Down syndrome have an extra copy of chromosome 21.
• Fragile X syndrome
  • Children with fragile X syndrome have a genetic mutation that inhibits their ability to produce an important protein.

Developmental delays usually stem from something that occurs before birth, during birth, or in very early infancy. However, developmental delays sometimes begin later in childhood, as the result of an injury, infection, or another complication.

Neurodevelopmental disorders are impairments in the developmental growth of the brain and central nervous system. These disorders affect the baby or child’s ability to achieve certain milestones, including learning specific skills and tasks that other children in a similar age range can do.

Birth injuries can cause several specific neurodevelopmental disorders.

A developmental cognitive disability is a disability that begins in childhood and is characterized by limitations in intellectual function and life skills. 

Children and adults with developmental cognitive disabilities may have difficulties with:

• Communication
• Conceptual Skills
• Social skills
• Self-care
• Home living
• Community use
• Self-direction
• Health and safety
• Functional academics
• Leisure
• Work

There are many types of services and supports that can help people with cognitive developmental disabilities. Many children benefit from special education services, through which they can have an individualized education program (IEP). Some people with cognitive developmental disabilities also require support throughout their lives. This can range from help finding/maintaining a job to full-time caretaking.

Developmental motor disability (cerebral palsy): Cerebral palsy, abbreviated CP, is a disorder caused by damage to the brain that occurs around the time of birth. It affects body movement and muscle coordination. Individuals with cerebral palsy also may experience seizures, abnormal speech, hearing and visual impairments, and cognitive impairments. Although cerebral palsy is a lifelong condition, training and therapy can help improve function.

Attention-deficit disorder (ADD) and Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are some of the most common neurobehavioral disorders. 

ADD and ADHD are characterized by problems with: 

• attentiveness
• over-activity
• impulsivity

For these problems to be diagnosed as ADD/ADHD, they must be out of the normal range for the child’s age and development. 

Children usually receive an ADD or ADHD diagnosis in childhood. The condition persists into adulthood. It can be addressed with medications and/or behavioral interventions. Although ADHD can persist throughout an individual’s life and negatively impact things like education, work, and interpersonal relationships, many people are able to manage it effectively.

Learning disabilities become evident in childhood and are characterized by difficulty learning, sorting, and storing information. 

Children with learning disabilities may have difficulties with skills like:

• Listening
• Speaking
• Reading
• Writing
• Reasoning
• Mathematics

These challenges may interfere with academic performance and, in some cases, activities of daily living. Some children with learning disabilities may benefit from special education services. With proper intervention, training, and strategies, many individuals with learning disabilities can lead successful, independent lives.

Microcephaly is a condition in which an infant or child’s head is much smaller than normal. Brain injuries/abnormalities stunt growth of the skull. 

Microcephaly is often caused by birth injuries. If there is an interruption in blood supply to the baby’s brain early in development, this can cause microcephaly and permanent brain damage (hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, cerebral palsy, etc). 

Currently, there is no cure for microcephaly, but there are supportive treatments to help the child better cope with the condition.

If you are seeking the help of a birth injury lawyer, it is very important to choose a lawyer and firm that focus solely on birth injury cases. ABC Law Centers: Birth Injury Lawyers has been helping children with birth injuries since its inception in 1997.

If your child was diagnosed as having developmental delays, learning disabilities, cerebral palsy, hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), or any other birth injury, we can help. We have helped children throughout the country obtain compensation for lifelong treatment, therapy, and a secure future, and we give personal attention to each child and family we represent. 

Please contact us today to begin your free case review. You pay nothing throughout the entire legal process unless we win or favorably settle your case.