Approximately 17 percent of children have disabilities. Only 20-30 percent of these children are evaluated and treated before they start school. Early, high quality interventions produce the best outcomes. The Chicago Children’s Clinic provides evidence-based treatments and recommendations for infants, toddlers, children, and adolescents.
If you are concerned about a child’s development, social skills or behavior, please review these developmental red flags to determine if a child should be referred for an evaluation.
To download the Developmental Red Flags listed below listed below as a pdf document,
click here.
Age 0-3ng>
By 6 months or thereafter:
• No big smiles or other warm, joyful expressions
By 9 months or thereafter:
• No back-and-forth sharing of sounds, smiles, or other facial expressions
By 12 months:
• No babbling &/or no gesturing
By 15 months:
• No words
By 24 months:
• No 2-word meaningful phrases (without imitating or repeating)
ANY LOSS of spANY LOSS of speech or babbling or social skills at ANY AGE
(Courtesy "First Signs") www.firstsigns.org
Ages 3-5 ng>
• Trouble learning common nursery rhymes
• Lack of appreciation of rhymes
• Mispronounced words; persistent baby talk
• Difficulty in learning names of letters
• Failure to know the letters in his/her own name
Ages 5-7
• Trouble learning nursery rhymes
• Persistent baby talk
• Difficulty learning letters
• Failure to learn letters in own name
• Does not associated letters with sounds
• Unable to read common one-syllable words
• Runs away from reading time
• Complains about reading
• Social avoidance (clingy, temper tantrums, poor eye contact)
• Does not explore environment (only likes certain textures)
• Poor visual-spatial organization (avoids jungle gym)
• Poor fine-motor skills
• Poor social skills (needs rules)
• Little or no speech prosody
• Academic problems include: poor handwriting, reading comprehension, mechanical arithmetic, written spelling
Older Children and Adolescents
• Academic decline
• Conduct related concerns or behavioral issues
• Child complains of feeling “dumb”
• Others report that child is “lazy” and “just not trying”
• Failing exams even after studying
• Reduced self esteem
• Teachers report concerns
• Not handing in assignments
• Social concerns
• Emotional difficulties (especially withdrawal, irritability, anger, anxiety, sadness)
• History of alcohol or drug use
• Oppositional behaviors towards homework
Any Age
• Sleep disturbance
• Fire setting
• Cruelty to animals
• Aggressive behavior
• Hyperactivity
• Inability to play with peers appropriately
• Excessive fears
• School refusal
For more detailed information about when to refer for a speech-language evaluation, click here.