What to Watch for

Trying to determine whether your child has a developmental disability and what help he needs can be confusing and difficult.

Here are some things the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests watching for in your child. This isn’t a diagnosis, and each child is different, but if your child exhibits several of these conditions, an evaluation by a qualified professional is in order.

Three months

• Does not respond to loud noises.
• Does not notice hands by 2 months.
• Does not follow moving objects with eyes.
• Does not grasp and hold objects.
• Does not smile at people.
• Cannot support head well.
• Does not reach for and grasp toys.
• Does not babble.
• Does not bring objects to mouth by 4 months.
• Begins babbling, but does not try to imitate any of your sounds by 4 months.
• Does not push down with legs when feet are placed on a firm surface by 4 months.
• Has trouble moving one or both eyes in all directions.
• Crosses eyes most of the time (occasional crossing of the eyes is normal).
• Does not pay attention to new faces, or seems very frightened by new faces or surroundings.
• Experiences a dramatic loss of previously learned skills.

Seven months:

• Seems very stiff, with tight muscles.
• Seems very floppy, like a rag doll.
• Head still flops back when body is pulled to a sitting position.
• Reaches with one hand only.
• Refuses to cuddle.
• Shows no affection for caregivers.
• Doesn't seem to enjoy being around people.
• One or both eyes consistently turn in or out.
• Persistent tearing, eye drainage, or sensitivity to light.
• Does not respond to sounds.
• Has difficulty getting objects to mouth.
• Does not turn head to locate sounds.
• Does not roll over in either direction (front to back or back to front).
• Seems impossible to comfort at night.
• Does not smile on his or her own.
• Cannot sit with help.
• Does not laugh or make squealing sounds.
• Does not actively reach for objects.
• Does not follow objects with both eyes at near (1 foot) and far (6 feet) ranges.
• Does not bear weight on legs.
• Does not try to attract attention through actions.
• Does not babble by 8 months.
• Shows no interest in games of peek-a-boo by 8 months.
• Experiences a dramatic loss of previously learned skills.

One year:

• Does not crawl.
• Drags one side of body while crawling (for more than a month).
• Cannot stand when supported.
• Does not search for objects that are hidden while he or she watches.
• Says no single words ("mama" or "dada").
• Does not learn to use gestures, such as waving or shaking head.
• Does not point to objects or pictures.
• Experiences a dramatic loss of previously learned skills.

Two years:

• Cannot walk by 18 months.
• Fails to develop a mature heel-toe walking pattern after several months of walking, or walks only on his toes.
• Does not speak at least 15 words.
• Does not use two-word sentences.
• By 15 months, does not seem to know the function of common household objects (brush, telephone, bell, fork, and spoon).
• Does not imitate actions or words.
• Does not follow simple instructions.
• Cannot push a wheeled toy.
• Experiences a dramatic loss of previously learned skills.

Three years:

• Frequent falling and difficulty with stairs.
• Persistent drooling or very unclear speech.
• Cannot build a tower of more than four blocks.
• Difficulty manipulating small objects.
• Cannot copy a circle.
• Cannot communicate in short phrases.
• No involvement in "pretend" play.
• Does not understand simple instructions.
• Little interest in other children.
• Extreme difficulty separating from mother or primary caregiver.
• Poor eye contact.
• Limited interest in toys.
• Experiences a dramatic loss of previously learned skills.

Four years:

• Cannot throw a ball overhand.
• Cannot jump in place.
• Cannot ride a tricycle.
• Cannot grasp a crayon between thumb and fingers.
• Has difficulty scribbling.
• Cannot stack four blocks.
• Still clings or cries whenever parents leave.
• Shows no interest in interactive games.
• Ignores other children.
• Doesn't respond to people outside the family.
• Doesn't engage in fantasy play.
• Resists dressing, sleeping, using the toilet.
• Lashes out without any self-control when angry or upset.
• Cannot copy a circle.
• Doesn't use sentences of more than three words.
• Doesn't use "me" and "you" correctly.
• Experiences a dramatic loss of previously learned skills.

Five years:

• Acts extremely fearful or timid.
• Acts extremely aggressively.
• Is unable to separate from parents without major protest.
• Is easily distracted and unable to concentrate on any single activity for more than five minutes.
• Shows little interest in playing with other children.
• Refuses to respond to people in general, or responds only superficially.
• Rarely uses fantasy or imitation in play.
• Seems unhappy or sad much of the time.
• Doesn't engage in a variety of activities.
• Avoids or seems aloof with other children and adults.
• Doesn't express a wide range of emotions.
• Has trouble eating, sleeping, or using the toilet.
• Can't tell the difference between fantasy and reality.
• Seems unusually passive.
• Cannot understand two-part commands using prepositions ("Put the doll on the bed, and get the ball under the couch.")
• Can't correctly give first and last name.
• Doesn't use plurals or past tense properly when speaking.
• Doesn't talk about her daily activities and experiences
• Cannot build a tower of six to eight blocks.
• Seems uncomfortable holding a crayon.
• Has trouble taking off clothing.
• Cannot brush teeth efficiently.
• Cannot wash and dry hands.
• Experiences a dramatic loss of previously learned skills.