Communication and social difficulties

When children do not meet these milestones, they may be exhibiting signs of an early developmental problem. Indications of developmental delays vary from child to child, and they can have different extensions. Some occur early during a child’s development and others may emerge later, as well as some may be mild and others more severe. A general indicator is a child’s difficulty achieving one or more of their developmental milestones, such as moving, walking, communicating, or talking later than would be expected.

For example, when compared to other children the same age, a child may be behind in the ability of sitting on their own, standing on their feet, walking, or running. Another child may be far behind communicating with words or behaving in unexpected ways in large, noisy, or busy environments. Another, still, may seem uninterested in talking or playing with peers or even when interested, interact with them in unusual ways. It is also possible that a child may spontaneously lose one skill that they may have already acquired.

Developmental problems may emerge from a number of different causes, some of which occur before a child is born, some during childbirth, and others early in a child’s life. Some of the most common causes are: