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The Path to First Milestones

Recognizing Early Motor Delays

By Sue Marquette Poremba

A child usually doesn't suddenly become delayed in motor-skill development, says Dr. John Sarwark, division head of orthopedic surgery at Children's Memorial Hospital and a member of the Pathways Awareness Foundation roundtable. "Generally the delays show up from the beginning," he says. "Kids won't go from normal to abnormal."

The earlier a parent can recognize the delay, the better it is for the child. The child can begin therapy immediately and "catch up" to age-appropriate development usually in a matter of months.

While a child who is brought to therapy later will still be able to benefit from the extra help, Girolami does warn that the child will likely need physical therapy for a longer period of time. "There is a ripple effect," says Girolami. "When children are referred at a later age, there may be some changes in the shape of the face [or] there may be some difficulty with vision or a weakened shoulder."

Because babies do mature and grow at their own pace, how can parents tell if their child is delayed?

Developmental guidelines, such as those available from the Pathways Awareness Foundation

Want to see more?

• Beyond Surprise and Shock: Learning Your Baby Has Special Needs
• Evaluating Toddlers: When Should You Worry?
• Here's an IDEA: Earlier Help for Special Needs Children
• Check out our Article Library.
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