Development Delays: SIGNS & SYMPTOMS:

Most children develop typically within a standard timeframe.  When a child experiences a delay in development, the explanation may be a naturally slower pace in reaching a developmental milestone or an indication that a more serious cause may be at hand.  The term developmental delay can mean when an otherwise typically developing child has a slower rate of standard progress reaching one or more developmental milestones than is expected of a similarly aged child.  Developmentally delayed can also be used to describe a child who is experiencing delays in development due to an underlying factor, like a medical condition, that prevents typical, age-appropriate development.

Generally, when difficulties related to motor coordination and planning, language, speech, sensory processing, corresponding socialization, and associated muscle tone significantly interfere with social communication, academic or occupational achievement, or result in substantially lower performance in daily activities given the individual's age and intelligence, they are referred to as disorders.  But even a minor impairment in functioning in one of these areas can require prompt attention and on-going remedial action.

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Developmental Delay and Hypotonia

Sometimes children will be referred to us for Developmental Delay or Hypotonia where the parent and/or the pediatrician notices that the child is late in attaining the motor milestones suggested by the standardized norms. Often there is not another diagnosis that would explain why the child is progressing slowly. Parents are often and understandably confused as to the difference between Developmental Delay and Hypotonia. While Hypotonia frequently results in developmental delay, it is not necessarily the cause of all developmental delay. Here we will discuss developmental delay due to the most common cause, hypotonia.

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