developmental delay
Behind expected milestones
Developmental delay describes a child who hasn't reached milestones—walking, talking, social skills—at the expected age.
The term is clinical and deliberately neutral, acknowledging that children develop at different rates while flagging potential concerns: The pediatrician noted a developmental delay in speech.
Multiple delays across areas may indicate a broader condition.
Often shortened to delayed: a delayed child.
Prompt response to emerging problems
- speech therapyTreatment for communication disorders
- occupational therapyRestoring practical life abilities
- physical therapyRehabilitative movement-based medical care
- behavioral therapyPsychotherapy targeting observable actions
special education · IEP · parent training · play therapy · ABA · floortime · assistive technology · adaptive equipment
Relating to thinking
- motor skillsCoordinated bodily movement ability
- gross motorBig-muscle body coordination
- speechOral communication ability
- languageSystem of symbolic communication
social-emotional · adaptive · communication · sensory processing · attention · executive function · problem-solving · articulation
Child learning to walk
- infancyEarliest period of life
- preschoolEarly childhood educational program
- pediatricianPhysician for children
- early childhoodFirst years of life
babbling · crawling · walking · screening · diagnosis · playgroup · attachment · regression
Impaired reasoning and adaptive skills
- autism spectrumRange of neurodevelopmental conditions
- ADHDNeurodevelopmental focus impairment
- Down syndromeThird chromosome 21 present
- cerebral palsyNeurological disorder impairing motor function
dyslexia · language disorder · speech disorder · premature birth · failure to thrive · fetal alcohol syndrome · chromosomal abnormality · neurological condition
Evaluative selection process
- evaluationDetermining worth or quality
- diagnosisIdentification of illness
- standardized testsIdentical exams given uniformly
- normsExpected behavioral standards
percentile · benchmark · referral · observation · domain-specific · cognitive assessment · adaptive behavior · monitoring
early intervention
Prompt response to emerging problems
- speech therapyTreatment for communication disorders
- occupational therapyRestoring practical life abilities
- physical therapyRehabilitative movement-based medical care
behavioral therapy · special education · IEP · parent training · play therapy · ABA · floortime · assistive technology · adaptive equipment · support services
cognitive
Relating to thinking
- motor skillsCoordinated bodily movement ability
- gross motorBig-muscle body coordination
- speechOral communication ability
language · social-emotional · adaptive · communication · sensory processing · attention · executive function · problem-solving · articulation · coordination
toddler
Child learning to walk
- infancyEarliest period of life
- preschoolEarly childhood educational program
- pediatricianPhysician for children
early childhood · babbling · crawling · walking · screening · diagnosis · playgroup · attachment · regression · catch-up
intellectual disability
Impaired reasoning and adaptive skills
- autism spectrumRange of neurodevelopmental conditions
- ADHDNeurodevelopmental focus impairment
- Down syndromeThird chromosome 21 present
cerebral palsy · dyslexia · language disorder · speech disorder · premature birth · failure to thrive · fetal alcohol syndrome · chromosomal abnormality · neurological condition · learning disability
screening
Evaluative selection process
- evaluationDetermining worth or quality
- diagnosisIdentification of illness
- standardized testsIdentical exams given uniformly
norms · percentile · benchmark · referral · observation · domain-specific · cognitive assessment · adaptive behavior · monitoring · follow-up
- child developmentbaby, toddler, newborn, infancy, milestones
- Child Healthcheckups, immunizations, vaccinations, well-child visits, growth charts
- pediatricspediatrician, pediatricians, pediatrics, pediatric care, well-child visit
- Education ServicesIEP, teacher training, 504 plan, school improvement, accommodations
- Human Developmentgrowth, heredity, aging, genetics, puberty
- support servicestherapy, counseling, tutoring, mentoring, coaching
developmental delayprecocity
Premature mental development
early development · giftedness · early bloomer · prodigy · ahead of schedule
delay, develop, development, developing, developer, develops, redevelop, developers, redevelopment