Developmental Delay By:Sarah Arrowsmith

Developmental Delay
Definition:
Significantly limited, impaired, or delayed learning capacity of a young child (3-9 years old), exhibited by difficulties in or or more of the following areas: receptive and/or expressive language cognitive abilities; physical functioning; social, emotional, or adaptive functiong; and/or self-help skills
-A developmental delay is any significant lag in a child's physical, cognitive, behavioral, emotional, or social development, in comparison with norms.
-At least 8 percent of all children from birth to six years have developmental problems and delays in one or more areas of development.

Characteristics:
Behavioral Warning Signs:
Does not pay attention or stay focused on an activity for as long a time as other children of the same age
Focuses on unusual objects for long periods of time; enjoys this more than interacting with others
Avoids or rarely makes eye contact with others
Gets unusually frustrated when trying to do simple tasks that most children of the same age can do
Shows aggressive behaviors and acting out and appears to be very stubborn compared with other children
Displays violent behaviors on a daily basis
Stares into space, rocks body, or talks to self more often than other children of the same age
Does not seek love and approval from a caregiver or parent

Gross Motor Warning Signs:
Has stiff arms and/or legs
Has a floppy or limp body posture compared to other children of the same age
Uses one side of body more than the other
Has a very clumsy manner compared with other children of the same age

Vision Warning Signs:
Seems to have difficulty following objects or people with her eyes
Rubs eyes frequently
Turns, tilts or holds head in a strained or unusual position when trying to look at an object
Seems to have difficulty finding or picking up small objects dropped on the floor (after the age of 12 months)
Has difficulty focusing or making eye contact
Closes one eye when trying to look at distant objects
Eyes appear to be crossed or turned
Brings objects too close to eyes to see
One or both eyes appear abnormal in size or coloring

Hearing Warning Signs:
Talks in a very loud or very soft voice
Seems to have difficulty responding when called from across the room, even when it is for something interesting
Turns body so that the same ear is always turned toward sound
Has difficulty understanding what has been said or following directions after once she has turned 3 years of age
Doesn't startle to loud noises
Ears appear small or deformed
Fails to develop sounds or words that would be appropriate at her age

--A child with a developmental delay differs from the typical child with normal growth and developmental patterns because:
-they lag behind in normal developmental milestones
Examples of these:
--Any child who is not speaking words or sentences by age 3 could have a developmental delay
--Less adventursome during toddler years
--Show no increase in motor skills(trouble learning to walk)


Ways To Accomodate Children with Developmental Delays In A Classroom:
-Repetition of instruction
-rephrasing questions
-modeling tasks
-visual learning strategies
-assignments broken down into smaller tasks
-models and reward systems