Developmental delays

Developmental milestones are key skills that most children can do by a certain age. They can help you keep track of your child’s growth and development.

Developmental milestones may include:

• smiling
• rolling over
• fine motor skills, such as clenching their fist
• taking first steps
• saying first words
• playing with other children
• following simple instructions

Your child may develop these skills:

• before other children their age
• after other children their age
• in a slightly different order to other children their age

It’s important to remember that every child is different and will learn skills at their own pace.

Read more about your baby’s growth and development and developmental milestones.

Developmental delay is when your child reaches a developmental milestone more slowly than other children their age. Global developmental delay is when your child is slower to reach multiple developmental milestones.

If your child has a developmental delay, they may find it hard to do things that other children their age can do.

Some developmental delays are temporary (short-term). With the right support, your child may be able to develop at a similar overall pace to other children their age.

For some children, developmental delays can last longer. In some cases, this may be a sign of an underlying condition.

Signs of developmental delay include your child being slower than other children to develop skills, such as:

• talking
• crawling
• walking
• playing with other children
• following simple instructions

They may have a delay in one or more of these areas.

There is not always a specific cause for developmental delays. Your child may have a higher chance of developmental delay if they:

• were born prematurely (before 37 weeks of pregnancy)
• experienced a birth injury (an injury during birth) or other complications during birth
• have fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (a condition caused by drinking alcohol during pregnancy)
• have a genetic disorder, such as Down syndrome
• have a health condition, such as epilepsy (a condition that causes seizures)
• have problems with their hearing or their eyesight
• have a developmental condition, such as autism spectrum disorder (a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects behaviour)

Your child’s development can also be affected by factors such as:

• their environment
• their diet
• illnesses, including colds and flu
• spending a lot of time in hospital during the first months of their life
• exposure to illicit drugs or alcohol during pregnancy

Signs that your child may have a developmental delay include if they:

• seem slower to learn new skills than other children their age
• have trouble talking compared to other children their age
• find it hard to interact with other children their age
• don’t interact with new objects or new people
• don’t seem to hear you or respond to sound
• don’t show facial expressions
• don’t use hand gestures, such as waving or pointing

It’s important to remember that every child develops at their own rate. Children may:

• have spurts of learning, where they seem to be learning things quickly
• seem to forget what they have learned. This may be more likely if they are unwell.
• focus less on one skill while they are learning a new one

If you are concerned about your child’s development, see your doctor or child health nurse.

You can also go to your local child health centre.

Your doctor or child health nurse will use screening tools to compare your child’s development with other children of their age. They will get information by talking with you about your child’s daily life, including how they:

• play
• interact with other children
• manage simple tasks
• tell you what they need and want

When you meet with your doctor or child health nurse it can help to:

• have a video of your child that shows your concerns
• keep a diary of your concerns
• bring a friend or family member with you to help answer questions
• ask questions, such as what support is available for you and your child

If your doctor thinks your child has a developmental delay and needs professional support, they may refer you to early childhood partners. Early childhood partners are part of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) early childhood approach.

Early childhood partners are early childhood professionals and may include:

• an occupational therapist (a person who helps your child learn everyday skills)
• a speech pathologist (a person who helps your child with speech and communication)
• an early childhood educator
• a physiotherapist

Early childhood partners:

• will review information from people who know your child well, such as their childcare educator or doctor
• may observe your child at home, in childcare or in school — this helps them understand the areas where your child may need extra support
• will work with you to develop a plan to support your child’s development

You can read more about early childhood partners on the NDIS page.

 

If your child has a developmental delay, your doctor or child health nurse may recommend early childhood intervention. Early childhood intervention means getting professional support to help your child continue to develop.

Some children who are not diagnosed with developmental delay, but still have developmental concerns, may also be supported with early childhood intervention.

Early childhood intervention may be provided by:

• NDIS early childhood partners, for eligible children
• state and territory health services, such as child development services
• licensed therapists
• education providers

Early childhood intervention services may include:

• occupational therapy or physiotherapy
• support with speech problems
• education
• support for families and carers

Your child’s progress will need to be checked regularly by a health professional, such as a:

• paediatrician (doctor who specialises in children’s health and development)
• audiologist (a specialist who assesses and treats hearing problems)
• psychologist
• social worker (a person who helps connect you with support services)

Your doctor or child health nurse can provide advice about what you can do at home to help your child’s development. Some things that help children develop include:

• talking to your child from birth
• explaining what you are doing with simple words
• listening to the sounds your child makes and copying them back
• reading with your child regularly
• using songs and rhymes to teach your child new words

Children learn from exploring and trying new things. You could:

• give your child a variety of things to look at, touch and hold
• take your child outside to explore and see new things
• notice what your child is interested in and follow their lead
• give your child time to try things for themselves
• give your child lots of encouragement for small successes
• avoid focusing only on things your child finds difficult
• let your child be involved in helping you, even if they don’t do things perfectly

It’s also important to talk with staff at your child’s childcare centre, preschool or school. Additional support is often available for children with developmental delays.

It can be difficult if your child’s development is delayed. As a parent or carer, you may find it hard to return to your usual daily activities, such as work. It may help to:

• talk with family, friends, carers or professionals about the kind of support you need
• contact support services and find out what they can offer
• make time to look after your own health and wellbeing
• connect with parents in a similar situation — this can be a source of support and a great way to share information and ideas

It’s important to remember that every child develops differently. With the right support, children with developmental delays can continue to learn and grow in their own way.

The Sydney Children’s Hospital Network website has more information on:

• developmental delays in children
• developmental milestones

Visit the NDIS website for more information on:

• how the NDIS works
• developmental delay and the early childhood approach
• how to apply to the NDIS

Thriving Kids is a national system of support for children under 8 years of age with developmental delays. Learn more about what support Thriving Kids can provide on the Australian Government website.