Diagnoses Similar to Developmental Delay

Children diagnosed with a developmental delay are often later diagnosed with a developmental disability that explains why they are not reaching their developmental milestones. A child with poor motor skills might later be diagnosed with cerebral palsy or muscular dystrophy. A child that is not reaching their cognitive or social milestones might later be diagnosed with intellectual disability, learning disability, or autism. In some children, the developmental delays resolve and no diagnosis is made.  Unfortunately, in some children, the underlying reason for persistent developmental delays is not identifiable despite extensive evaluation.