Child Developmental Delays and Disorders: Motor Delay

Abstract

Gross motor development in infants and children, including loss of cerebral neuromotor maturational markers (ie, primitive reflexes) and achievement of motor developmental milestones, follows a predictable sequence as the central nervous system matures. Because of this predictability, routine well-child visits provide an opportunity to assess development and identify motor delays through physical examination and screening with standardized tools. Family physicians are well suited to evaluate for risk factors that may adversely affect motor development, including review of the medical and social history of the child and the parents or caregivers for such factors. After a gross motor delay is identified, the physician should determine the likely cause of the delay, identify any anatomic etiology, and assess for features that may require further evaluation. This may include laboratory tests, imaging, or referral to a subspecialist. The patient then should be referred for early intervention.