SIGNS OF DEVELOPMENTAL DELAY

Pregnancy

1. Complications during the 9 months of pregnancy.
2. Excessive vomiting etc, even after the 4^th month of pregnancy.
3. Baby not moving adequately inside the womb till birth.

Delivery

1. Pain and contractions before the bag burst and the water leaked.
2. Caesarian delivery due to problems during birth.
3. Baby did not cry soon or right after birth.

Age : 0-1 year

1. Baby excessively quiet or cranky in the hospital after birth, or continued to be quiet or cranky in the next 4-5 months.
2. Baby unable to suck/breast feed in the days following the birth, or doing so with difficulty.
3. Baby had breathing difficulty or a seizure episode soon after birth/stay at the hospital.
4. Repetition of such problems after discharge, at home.
5. Baby did not feed adequately.
6. Baby did not pass urine easily.
7. Baby not looking at the mother and the familiar faces after few weeks.
8. Does not smile at them, hold on to the mother’s finger while feeding, settle down comfortably when picked up.
9. Does not start holding up his/her head, roll over, reach out with hands, kick feet in air, laugh, gurgle, be startled by loud sounds or understand when scolded.
10. Does not come up to sitting independently, stand up, take a few steps.
11. Does not babble.
12. Does not want to convey something when talking – not saying something meaningfully, but just randomly repeating words without any purpose.
13. Does not enjoy songs/nursery rhymes or does not want to join in on the songs.
14. Does not look at books/pictures.
15. Does not point at things.

Age : 1-2 years

1. Baby not comfortable with strangers and familiar people alike after 1 year of age.
2. Not responding to command.
3. Use of words restricted to 4-5 keywords.*
4. No speaking in phrases.
5. Falling down often.*
6. Poor eye-hand coordination – unable to throw a ball in a bucket at a distance.*
7. Difficulty in calming down. for example – continuous crying over trivial matters.*
8. Inability to sleep for a long time.
9. Peculiar tastes in food – Would not eat a certain texture of food, or a certain color of food.
10. Walking started at an age of 1.5 yrs or higher.*

Age : 2-3 years

1. Unable to re-tell a known story in the right sequence.
2. Is not interested in keeping a conversation going.*
3. Likes repetitive games.*
4. Hyperactivity or complete disinterest (Either extreme).*
5. No pretend play.*
6. Not interested in books / not reading even picture books.

Age : 3-5 years(Pre-school)

1. Hyperactivity.*
2. No play with peers.*
3. Staying by self in a group.*
4. Very good imitation skills.
5. Disruptive behavior with peers – pinching, pulling hair, biting, hitting.
6. Repetition of classes over 2 years or more.*
7. Inability to play with peers in park/playground environment.

Age : 5+ years (School)

1. Inability to maintain friendships.*
2. Consistently bad marks in subjects* – despite tuition/after school classes.
3. Extremely Bad handwriting – illegible.*
4. Continued disruptive behaviours.*
5. Recurring symptoms like stomach pain, headache.*
6. Hyperactivity may or may not happen.

Featured image : Painting of an Indian Mother by Ilayaraja