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**  **Developmental Screening
  
**Sharing Concerns**For tips on sharing concerns about a                                     child's development,click on one of the                                     following:                                    -                                    Parent to Physician                                    -                                    Physician to Parent                                    -                                    Parent to Parent
What is child development?A child's growth is more than just physical. Children grow,develop, and learn throughout their lives, starting at birth.A child's development can be followed by how they play,learn, speak, and behave.

What is a developmental delay?**Will my child just grow out of it?**Skills such as taking a first step, smiling for the first time, andwaving "bye bye" are called developmental milestones.Children reach milestones in playing, learning, speaking,behaving, and moving (crawling, walking, etc.). Adevelopmental delay is when your child does not reach thesemilestones at the same time as other children the same age. Ifyour child is not developing properly, there are things you cando that may help. Most of the time, a developmental problemis not something your child will "grow out of" on his or her own.But with help, your child could reach his or her full potential!

What is developmental screening?Doctors and nurses use developmental screening to tell ifchildren are learning basic skills when they should, or if theymight have problems. Your child's doctor may ask youquestions or talk and play with your child during an exam tosee how he or she learns, speaks, behaves, and moves. Sincethere is no lab or blood test to tell if your child may have adelay, the developmental screening will help tell if your childneeds to see a specialist.

Why is developmental screening important?When a developmental delay is not recognized early,children must wait to get the help they need. This canmake it hard for them to learn when they start school.In the United States, 17 percent of children have a developmental or behavioral disability such as autism, intellectual disability (also known as mental retardation), or Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). In addition, many children have delays in language or other areas. In addition, many children have delaysin language or other areas. But, less than half of childrenwith problems are identified before starting school.During this time, the child could have received help forthese problems and may even have entered school moreready to learn.

I have concerns that my child could have a developmental delay. Who can I contact in my state to get mychild a developmental assessment?Talk to your child's doctor or nurse if you have concerns abouthow your child is developing. If you or your doctor thinkthere could be a problem, you can take your child to see adevelopmental pediatrician or other specialist, and you cancontact your local early intervention agency (for childrenunder 3) or public school (for children 3 and older) for help.To find out who to speak to in your area, you can contact theNational Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilitiesby logging on tohttp://www.nichcy.org/ or calling1-800-695-0285. In addition, the Centers for DiseaseControl and Prevention (CDC) has links to information forfamilies at (www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/dd/aic/resources).If there is a problem, it is very important to get your childhelp as soon as possible.

How can I help my child's development?Proper nutrition, exercise, and rest are very important forchildren's health and development. Providing a safe andloving home and spending time with your child – playing,singing, reading, and even just talking – can also make abig difference in his or her development.

For other ideas of activities to do with your child, and for childsafety information, go to www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/childand look in the "developmental milestones" section.

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Date:			July 24, 2007			Content source: National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental             Disabilities

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