Developmental screenings

What is a developmental screening?

Skills such as taking a first step, smiling for the first time, and waving "bye bye" are called developmental milestones. Doctors and nurses will play and talk with your children and ask you (and them, if they're old enough) questions to see if your children are reaching these milestones when they should, or if they might have a delay in developing. Most of the time, a developmental delay is not something your child will "grow out of" on his or her own. Since there is no lab or blood test to tell if your child may have a delay, the screening will help tell if your child needs to see a specialist.

• Go to the Centers for Disease Control's Developmental Milestones checklist to see how your child is doing.

Why is developmental screening important?

You need to know if your child is not learning to talk, play, think, move, or behave socially as quickly as other children the same age. If you don't recognize this early, it can make it hard for them to learn when they start school. Unfortunately, less than half of all developmental delays or behavior disabilities are identified before a child starts school. If you find them early, your child can get help and may be able to start school more ready to learn.

Examples of developmental disabilities

In the United States, 17 percent of children have a developmental or behavioral disability such as:

• Autism
• Intellectual disability (also known as mental retardation)
• Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
• Delays in language or other areas
• Cerebral palsy
• Vision or hearing loss

How you can help your child

Good nutrition, exercise and rest are very important for children's health and development. Spending time with your child, playing, singing, reading and talking, can also make a big difference in his or her development.

• Contact your child's physician to discuss your child's development.
• Learn more about what you can do. Go to the Centers for Disease Control's resource kit for parents.
• Check the resource list on this website for more places that can offer you help and information.