HOW TO ASSESS NORMAL DEVELOPMENT IN A CHILD AND WHEN TO SUSPECT A PROBABLE DEVELOPMENTAL DELAY ?

There are many validated development tools employed to assess the development and to identify developmental delay at an early age. Some early markers for development delay include :

• Delayed development of head control, rolling over, sitting, standing and walking
• Abnormal behaviour
• Hyperactivity and aggression
• Delayed/ slurred speech
• Abnormal movements or abnormal positioning of limbs
• Clumsiness
• Short attention span/ poor school performance
• Feeding difficulties
• Abnormal biting/ mouthing objects after 1 year of age

Parents facing doubts regarding this can bring their child in for routine check-up and assessment. This helps drastically to reduce the late detection of development delay and initiate early remediation.