How to Test for Developmental Delays in Children
Children develop at a predictable pace. Each accomplishment, like talking or tying shoes, happens during a particular age period. When a child does not reach the milestone during that age period, he is said to have a developmental delay. There are five main learning areas; gross motor skills (like riding a bike), fine motor skills (like being able to write legibly), social and emotional skills (like waiting for his turn), cognitive skills (like subtraction) and speech and language skills (like pronouncing "r" properly). Children can have developmental delays in just one area or in all of them.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
Test for Developmental Delays
-
1
Check the past. Premature babies, for example, may have developmental delays that continue well into childhood. Before you begin any testing, find out how the child developed as an infant and toddler. Look for any prior issues, such as a child who did not walk between 9 and 15 months or who did not talk between 10 and 18 months.
-
2
Talk to your pediatrician. Pediatricians are often among the first people to notice possible developmental delays and have screening tests like the Parents Evaluation of Developmental Status (PEDS). The PEDS test is a questionnaire that parents fill out about their child's development in all areas, such as ability to identify one's own feelings and the feelings of others and the ability to dress one's self.
-
-
3
Use a checklist. Use a milestone chart (see Resources) to see if the child has met the milestones appropriate for his age. This is a simplified version of a screening test. For example, you'll want to make sure that your two-year-old is scribbling and following one-step directions and that your five-year-old can retell part of a story and do a somersault.
-
4
Get a screening test. You can order a screening test (see Resources for a list), ask the pediatrician for one or call your local school district (even if your child is not yet school age). The screening test is used to find out if the child may have a delay; it is not the final word, it just shows whether the child needs a developmental evaluation.
-
5
Find an evaluator. If the screening test indicates a delay, a trained evaluator like a school psychologist will need to do the developmental evaluation. The person who screened your child can help you with the next step, or you can call your local school district or a developmental pediatrician in your area.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Children with developmental delays are able to be more successful the earlier they receive interventions. If you suspect a problem, get a screening test as soon as possible. If the screening indicates a problem, your school district or pediatrician can help you get your child an evaluation. After the evaluation, there will be a meeting to determine what assistance your child needs; she may need speech therapy, physical therapy or a special preschool program.
Remain calm and positive throughout the process so that your child doesn't sense your anxiety.
