What do developmental delays mean

Learn more about the number of children in the U. Children and adults with disabilities need health care and health programs for the same reasons anyone else does—to stay well, active, and a part of the community. Having a disability does not mean a person is not healthy or that he or she cannot be healthy. Being healthy means the same thing for all of us—getting and staying well so we can lead full, active lives. That includes having the tools and information to make healthy choices and knowing how to prevent illness.

Some health conditions, such as asthma, gastrointestinal symptoms, eczema and skin allergies, and migraine headaches, have been found to be more common among children with developmental disabilities. Thus, it is especially important for children with developmental disabilities to see a health care provider regularly. Learn more about healthy living ». CDC does not study education or treatment programs for people with developmental disabilities, nor does it provide direct services to people with developmental disabilities or to their families.

Or they can refer you to other professionals who can help. Your GP, child and family health nurse or paediatrician can help if you think your child might have developmental delay, or your child has a developmental delay diagnosis.

The following professionals can also help:. Like other children, children with developmental delay keep learning. But they take longer to develop new skills, and they might learn in slightly different ways from other children. For example, most children can learn skills quickly and by example. Podcast Wunder community app. Main menu Our work Blog Surveys and research.

Join our team Privacy policy Terms of use Fundraising disclosure Sitemap. At a Glance All kids develop skills at different rates. There are five main areas of development in which kids can have delays. Dive deeper The 5 areas of skill development.

Kids develop skills in five main areas of development: Cognitive or thinking skills: The ability to think, learn, and solve problems. Speech and language skills: The ability to use and understand language. Daily living activities: The ability to manage everyday tasks. Causes of developmental delays. Developmental delay vs.

These could include:. There are many different signs and symptoms of delay that can exist in children and often vary depending upon specific characteristics. Sometimes you may see signs in infancy, but in other cases they may not be noticeable until your child reaches school age. Some of the most common symptoms can include:.

Although there is no cure for developmental delay, therapies directed to the specific area of delay are very effective in helping children catch up to their peers. These types of therapies may include:. Speech therapy is typically used to address problems in the areas of understanding and producing language and speech sounds.

Early childhood special education provides stimulation for early developmental skills, including play skills. This may be needed in some children for behavioral difficulties that affect socially appropriate behaviors. At SSM Health, our world class team of developmental pediatricians and wide range of specialized therapists all have extensive experience working with families and children with developmental delays.