Understanding Developmental Delays: Causes, Identification & Support

Many factors may contribute to developmental delays. Identifying developmental milestones and understanding the causes of developmental delays can significantly reduce the delay or lead to its prevention.

Types

• Developmental delays often are the result of a genetic, visual, auditory, neurobehavioral, social/emotional, neurological, metabolic or a type of language disorder. Birth defects and brain trauma can also contribute to developmental delays.

Identification

• Maintaining infant and child well health checkups with the pediatrician and tracking developmental milestones can help aid in identifying the early onset of a developmental delay. Delay or difficulty exhibiting self-help skills, fine and gross motor development, social/emotional skills or impaired sensory and cognitive skills often indicate a developmental delay.

Causes

• A developmental delay can be caused by environmental factors, such as child abuse or neglect. Disease and family genetics may be a contributing factor. Maternal risk factors during pregnancy and neonatal events at birth may also result in developmental delays.

Considerations

• Developmental delays with language development may be the result of hearing loss, visual impairment or a language processing deficit. Testing may need to be performed by an audiologist, optometrist, speech/language pathologist or a neuropsychologist.

Prevention/Solution

• Often an underlying disability may be the result of a developmental delay. The earlier a diagnosis and treatment is sought, better is the outcome for self-esteem and the prevention of further delays.