Developmental and functional evaluation and assessment

Abstract

Development generally follows four domains, namely, motor, speech and language, social-emotional, and cognitive. Development is considered typical when it is progressing as expected. The predominant signs and symptoms of atypical development vary depending upon the age of the infant or the child. For example, a delay in achieving motor milestones as expected is generally recognized early in infancy, atypical language development is more often recognized in early childhood, and academic difficulties are recognized in late childhood and adolescence. This chapter reviews the basic concepts and definitions applied in the study of developmental problems, the main features of common conditions considered in the differential diagnoses of developmental disorders, describe signs that should prompt further developmental evaluation, and reviews formal functional developmental and functional assessments.