What's the difference between a developmental delay and a disorder?

A delay means a child is behind on expected skills but may catch up, especially with support. A disorder describes a more persistent difference in development. Only an evaluation (and sometimes a medical diagnosis) can distinguish them — but you don't need that label to start helping.

Will my child catch up on their own?

Some children do, but there's no reliable way to predict who will — and waiting can cost valuable early time. Because early support is so effective, evaluating rather than waiting is usually the safer choice.

Do I need a diagnosis to start therapy?

No — speech and occupational therapy can begin supporting your child's development without a diagnosis. A referral from your child's primary care provider is required (faxed to 901-589-9001).

speech-language therapy · Awareness

Signs of Developmental Delay: When to Worry and What to Do

Written by Hannah Hutcheson, M.S., CCC-SLP

Speech-Language Pathologist & Co-founder

Updated 2026-06-20

Every parent compares notes and wonders, at some point, whether their child is a little behind. Most of the time it's normal variation. But knowing the actual signs of a developmental delay — and what to do about them — takes the guesswork out of that worry.

What is a developmental delay?

A developmental delay means a child is meaningfully behind in reaching skills expected for their age, in one or more areas: gross and fine motor, speech and language, social-emotional, or thinking and self-care. A delay is a signal that a child could use support — it isn't a diagnosis or a verdict, and it's often very responsive to early help.

Signs by area

Motor: not sitting by 9 months, not walking by 18 months, clumsiness, weakness, or strong one-sided preference.
Speech & language: no words by 15–18 months, hard to understand for their age, not following directions, or not combining words by 2.
Social & emotional: limited eye contact, not responding to their name, little interest in others, or intense difficulty with change.
Thinking & self-care: not engaging in pretend play, trouble with problem-solving, or lagging far behind on dressing and feeding themselves.
Any area: losing skills they once had — always worth a prompt check.

Why “act early” beats “wait and see”

The early years are when the brain is most adaptable, so support tends to work faster and go further the sooner it starts. “Wait and see” risks losing that window. An evaluation is low-stakes: if your child is on track, you get reassurance; if not, you've started early — which is exactly what helps most.

These signs are signals, not diagnoses. Share concerns with your pediatrician, and remember a hearing check is wise whenever speech or responsiveness is in question.

Recognizing some of these? An evaluation turns worry into a clear plan.

Request an evaluation

Explore the signs by area

Related guides from our team

What to do if you're concerned

Start with your pediatrician and ask about developmental screening. In Tennessee, families of young children can also contact the Tennessee Early Intervention System (TEIS) for no-cost evaluation. And you don't need a diagnosis to begin — our speech and occupational therapy teams can start supporting your child's development right away (a referral from your child's primary care provider is required, faxed to 901-589-9001).

Frequently asked

What's the difference between a developmental delay and a disorder?: A delay means a child is behind on expected skills but may catch up, especially with support. A disorder describes a more persistent difference in development. Only an evaluation (and sometimes a medical diagnosis) can distinguish them — but you don't need that label to start helping.
Will my child catch up on their own?: Some children do, but there's no reliable way to predict who will — and waiting can cost valuable early time. Because early support is so effective, evaluating rather than waiting is usually the safer choice.
Do I need a diagnosis to start therapy?: No — speech and occupational therapy can begin supporting your child's development without a diagnosis. A referral from your child's primary care provider is required (faxed to 901-589-9001).

Sources

These links point to external organizations for general education and are not a substitute for an evaluation by a qualified professional.

About the author

Hannah Hutcheson, M.S., CCC-SLP

Hannah is a licensed, ASHA-certified speech-language pathologist and co-founder of Midsouth Therapy Group, where she leads the speech-language team serving children across the Memphis metro.

Meet the full team →

Learn more about speech-language therapy at Midsouth Therapy Group.

Worried your child is behind?

Our speech and occupational therapy teams can assess where your child is and what would help. Reach out and we'll guide you.

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