Developmental regression

**Developmental regression** happens when a child who has reached certain developmental milestones begins to lose previously acquired milestones. It is different from global developmental delay. A child is developmentally delayed when they do not reach developmental milestones expected for their age or stop meeting new developmental milestones. On the other hand, a child experiencing developmental regression will lose skills that they previously had. Developmental regression is associated with developmental disorders such as autism spectrum disorder, childhood disintegrative disorder, Rett syndrome, Landau-Kleffner syndrome, and neurodegenerative diseases. The loss of motor skills, language abilities, and social skills can be treated with occupational therapy, physical therapy, and speech therapy.

## Commonly associated diagnoses 
Developmental regression is typically a symptom of a  neurological disorder or a neurodevelopmental disorder.

### Autism spectrum disorder 
Autism spectrum disorder is a developmental disorder that affects a child's communication skills and social. Children with autism spectrum disorder can experience a loss of their previously acquired language abilities and social skills. This is often noticed by the child's parents. Children can lose their vocabulary, have more trouble understanding language, lose their ability to make eye contact, or lose their ability to play social games that they used to be able to play. CDD was merged with autism spectrum disorder in the DSM-5 in 2013. It occurs almost exclusively in girls. When someone develops LKS, they lose their ability to understand spoken language and verbally express themselves. People usually develop LKS between the ages of 2 and 8 years old.

## Signs and symptoms 
Children with developmental regression lose developmental milestones they have previously gained. These can be motor, social, or language skills. Children with regression of their motor skills may lose their ability to walk, feed themselves, use their hands to do a task, bathe themselves, or dress themselves. or make eye contact. Children with regression of their language skills may lose their ability to understand other people speaking or communicate themselves. Physicians also screen children for autism spectrum disorder at their 18 month and 2 year appointments. Occupational therapy can help children regain some of their lost fine motor skills. An occupational therapist can help a child improve their fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination so they can complete basic life tasks like bathing or feeding themselves, and precise physical tasks like writing. Physical therapy can be used to treat regression of gross motor skills. Physical therapists can help a child with skills like walking or mobility issues.

Speech therapy is often used for treatment of regression of language skills. Speech therapists will help a child restore as much of their lost language skills as possible. They also can help a child learn to communicate, possibly with the use of communication aids.

Social skills training can be used to treat regression of social skills. Children who receive social skills training are taught age-appropriate social skills, such as problem-solving and peer interaction skills.

When a child's developmental regression is related to or caused by seizures, medication can be used to treat the seizures.

## See also 
* Developmental disability

## References