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Developmental Delay

By , About.com Guide

Updated June 25, 2010

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Definition: A developmental delay is a significant and ongoing delay in a child’s development. Developmental delays may occur in any or all of the major areas of child development: social, language, fine motor, gross motor.

Premature infants often meet milestones later than full-term babies just because they were born early. Parents should adjust for gestational age until their children have caught up to their peers. Preemies who consistently fall short of milestones, even after adjusting for gestational age, should have their development evaluated by their pediatrician.

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