Developmental Delays Specialist

What are developmental delays in young children?

As you watch your child develop, remember that each child does so at his or her own. It will be helpful to be aware of red flags for potential developmental delays however. These delays indicate that they are unable to do something which is normal for most children at the same age.

What are motor skill developmental delays?

Motor skill developmental delays can be related to gross motor skills, such as crawling or walking, or fine motor skills, like using fingers to grasp a spoon. Possible causes of motor skill delays can include:

• Ataxia, a defect which impairs muscle coordination
• Children who are born prematurely who don’t develop muscles at the same rate as other children
• Cerebral palsy, a condition caused by brain damage before birth
• Cognitive delays
• Myopathy, a disease of the muscles
• Problems with vision
• Spina bifida, a genetic condition which causes partial or total paralysis of the lower part of the body

Physical or occupational therapy can help with fine motor problems or sensory integration dysfunction.

What are the warning signs of a motor skill issue?

Contact the doctor if your child has any of the following signs and watch for any loss of skills which have already been learned.

At three to four months:

• Doesn’t support head well
• Doesn’t reach for, hold, or grasp objects
• Doesn’t bring objects to mouth (by 4 months)
• Doesn’t push down with legs when feet are placed on firm surface (by 4 months)

At seven months:

• Has stiff and tight or overly floppy muscles
• Flops head when moved into a sitting position
• Reaches with only one hand or doesn’t actively reach for things
• Has trouble getting objects to his or her mouth
• Doesn't roll over in either direction (by 5 months)
• Cannot sit up without help (by 6 months)
• Doesn’t bear weight on his or her legs when you pull him or her up to a standing position

At one year:

• Doesn’t crawl
• Drags one side of body while crawling
• Cannot stand when supported

At two years:

• Cannot walk (by 18 months)
• Doesn’t develop a heel-to-toe walking pattern or walks on tiptoes
• Cannot push a wheeled toy