Identifying Developmental Delay or Disability

Your child is developing typically if they achieve the developmental milestones for their age. If you have any concerns about their development, you should visit a polyclinic, GP, or paediatrician as early as possible.

Here are some recommendations to monitor your child’s development:

• Learn about child development.

The different aspects of child development are:
1. Cognitive (i.e., the ability to think and learn) 
2. Speech and Language 
3. Physical (e.g., fine motor, gross motor, and sensory skills)
4. Social 
5. Emotional

You can find more information in your child's health booklet.


• Accompany your child for developmental screenings. 
  From birth to six years old, children should receive vaccinations and attend regular Childhood Developmental Screening (CDS) appointments. You can typically schedule these together. Even when there are no vaccinations scheduled, it is recommended for you to bring your child for check-ups when they are 30 and 40 months old.¹
  
   
• Monitor and record your child’s developmental progress. 
  Record and share your observations of your child’s developmental progress and behaviour with a doctor. Refer to guidelines and benchmarks set out in the health booklet when doing so.

Some developmental red flags includes²:
1. Inability to speak meaningful words at 18 months old, which can be a sign of speech delay.
2. Lack of reaction to loud noises, a delay in learning how to speak or a consistent mispronunciation of certain phonetic sounds. This could indicate some form of hearing loss.
3. No pretend play or having poor eye contact at 30 months old, which could be a sign of autism.

To learn more about your child’s condition, you can speak to experienced caregivers, and find relevant information.

Early detection is important for suitable and timely intervention from professionals. This can help your child receive the necessary support in their areas of development. After assessing and identifying their needs, early intervention (EI) professionals (learning support educators or teachers) may recommend for your child to enroll in EI programmes such as Early Intervention Programme for Infants & Children (EIPIC). Such programmes can provide specialised support and services for your child and are beneficial to begin as early as possible.

Speaking with allied health professionals can help you better support your child’s development. Your child might also benefit from the interim therapy services available at the Department of Child Development   at KK Women's and Children's Hospital or the Child Development Unit at National University Hospital and other paediatric clinics in private hospitals.

A combination of school and home support would be helpful for your child’s development. You can apply simple strategies to help your child carry out their daily living routines more effectively, and work closely with their teachers to reinforce what was learned in school. For more information, please refer to ECDA’s Parents Guide. 

If you suspect your loved one to have developmental delay, you may consider:

1. Visiting a professional for an assessment.
2. Finding out more about the support your loved one will require.
3. Joining support groups and getting in touch with more experienced caregivers. This can help you better understand the caregiving journey and the impact developmental needs can have on your loved one’s growth.
4. Seeking emotional support from family and friends and taking care of your wellbeing during this period.