Developmental Milestones
Probably every parent’s concern is that their child is developing in the best possible, healthy way. You may have heard of developmental milestones, but what do they really mean?
First and foremost is important to remember that every age has different developmental characteristics and milestones you should keep an eye on. When it comes to a newborn, parents are mostly keeping track of movement, visual and hearing, and social and emotional milestones. When you have a toddler, you start paying attention to hand and finger skills, as well as language and cognitive development.
Why is it Important?
The CDC reports that 1 in 6 children aged 3-17 have at least one developmental, or behavioral, disability. The problem is that many children are not diagnosed until they are in school, by which time the window of opportunity for important treatments may have passed, and significant delays may have taken place. The good news is there are ways for you to monitor your child’s development! The CDC offers not only a Checklist by age, but also a Milestone Tracker App you can use.
The Process
- Monitoring
Developmental milestones can easily be monitored at home, with the help of some simple resources. Remember that what they refer to are things about 75% of children can do by a certain age. You can observe how your child grows and changes over time, and whether they meet the typical milestones of their age.
- Screening
If you have concerns, or notice a milestone is missed, then you can proceed with developmental screening, a closer look, and a test to see how your child is developing. Though it can be a part of regular health screenings, a doctor can use a questionnaire and checklist to monitor your child’s progress in language, thinking, movement, behavior, and emotions. The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests developmental and behavioral screenings at ages of 9, 18, and 30 months, regardless of concern. In addition, it is recommended that all children be screened for autism spectrum disorder at 18 and 24 months.
- Evaluation
Should an area of concern be found, then your medical professional will usually proceed with a developmental evaluation to try and reach a diagnosis. These are done by trained specialists, such as a developmental pediatrician, child psychologist, or speech-language pathologist, among others. The specialist will observe the child, speak with the caretakers or parents, and even give the child a structured test. Usually, developmental evaluations determine whether a child needs early intervention services or special treatments.