Developmental Delay
Jacqueline McCluskey
CDFR 4300 Developmental Delay
At least 8 percent of all preschool children from birth to 6 years have developmental problems and demonstrate delays in one or more domains. (Pediatric Perspective, 2003). Developmental delays occur when a child does not reach the developmental milestones by the expected time. It can affect one or more of the five areas of development: physical, cognitive, communication, social and emotional, and adaptive. If a child is experiencing a delay in the area of social/emotional then their ability to communicate could also be affected.
According to IDEA developmental delay is defined as: Child with a disability for children aged three through nine (or any subset of that age range, including ages three through five), may…include a child-
1. Who is experiencing developmental delay as defined by the State and as measured by appropriate diagnostic instruments and procedures in one or more of the following areas: Physical development, cognitive, communication, social or emotional, or adaptive development; and
2. Who, by reason thereof, needs special education and related services. [34 CFR 300.8(b)]
The North Carolina General Statute 122C-3(12a) defines a developmental disability as "a severe, chronic disability of a person which:
is attributable to a mental or physical impairment or combination of mental and physical impairments; is manifested before the person attains age 22, unless the disability is caused by traumatic head injury and is manifested after age 22; is likely to continue indefinitely; results in substantial functional limitations in three or more of the following areas of major life activity: self-care receptive (understanding) and expressive language learning mobility (ability to move) self-direction (motivation) the capacity for independent living economic self-sufficiency reflects the person's need for a combination or sequence of special, interdisciplinary, generic
CDFR 4300 Developmental Delay
At least 8 percent of all preschool children from birth to 6 years have developmental problems and demonstrate delays in one or more domains. (Pediatric Perspective, 2003). Developmental delays occur when a child does not reach the developmental milestones by the expected time. It can affect one or more of the five areas of development: physical, cognitive, communication, social and emotional, and adaptive. If a child is experiencing a delay in the area of social/emotional then their ability to communicate could also be affected.
According to IDEA developmental delay is defined as: Child with a disability for children aged three through nine (or any subset of that age range, including ages three through five), may…include a child-
1. Who is experiencing developmental delay as defined by the State and as measured by appropriate diagnostic instruments and procedures in one or more of the following areas: Physical development, cognitive, communication, social or emotional, or adaptive development; and
2. Who, by reason thereof, needs special education and related services. [34 CFR 300.8(b)]
The North Carolina General Statute 122C-3(12a) defines a developmental disability as "a severe, chronic disability of a person which:
is attributable to a mental or physical impairment or combination of mental and physical impairments; is manifested before the person attains age 22, unless the disability is caused by traumatic head injury and is manifested after age 22; is likely to continue indefinitely; results in substantial functional limitations in three or more of the following areas of major life activity: self-care receptive (understanding) and expressive language learning mobility (ability to move) self-direction (motivation) the capacity for independent living economic self-sufficiency reflects the person's need for a combination or sequence of special, interdisciplinary, generic