In the U.S., nearly 17% of all children
experience some form
of developmental or behavioral disability.
Recognizing a problem early for disabilities such as autism
is key for parents
and health care providers across the nation.
To help children with potential problems
reach a healthier future,
CDC realized the impact of developmental disabilities
and invested in a campaign known as
"Learn the Signs. Act Early."
The program aims to help parents measure their child's progress
in terms of milestones
that monitor more than just the physical.
Parents can gauge how their child develops
by how they play, learn, speak, and act.
When a parent is worried
that a child may have a developmental problem,
there are a number of things they can do.
They should talk to their child's doctor;
contact the early intervention agency,
if their child is under the age of three;
or contact their local school district,
if their child is over the age of three.
Narrator: The good news is, the earlier
parents and providers
recognize children that are delayed in reaching a milestone,
the more intervention may help them
to reach their full potential.
All children develop at their own pace,
and many reach particular milestones
slightly late or early.
Peacock: A parent may notice that a child is not acting
like the other children in their play group.
Woman: What's the kitty say?
Child: Meow.
Peacock: The child is speaking later than their brother spoke.
This is a time when a parent
should go to their child's doctor.
Narrator: The age that a child takes a first step,
smiles for the first time,
and waves bye-bye offers important clues.
A delay occurs when a child reaches a milestone
at an age later than the average developmental rate.
Peacock: Now, show me with your finger.
Narrator: By eight months old, a majority of children
turn their heads upon hearing their name,
smile back when someone smiles,
and enjoy playing games, like peek-a-boo.
18-month-olds can engage in simple pretend play,
point to an interesting object,
or speak in single words without prompting.
Child: Hello!
Narrator: By their second birthday,
many children speak in two- to four-word phrases...
Child: It's Gina's turn.
Woman: It's Gina's turn?
Where's the baby's nose?
Narrator: Follow simple instructions,
and point to objects or pictures when named.
Keeping track
of how she plays, learns, speaks, and acts
is really important.
Those are the things that you can do as a mom
to learn those early signs of child development.
Follow your gut.
You're the expert on your baby,
and you can make a difference by letting her doctor know
if you're worried about something that's going on.
Narrator: Cindy Gray noticed her daughter Cathryn
reached some milestones late.
Even though other people were telling me
that Cathryn was fine,
it was just that she was premature and very small,
I had a feeling it was something more than that.
Narrator: Cindy Gray acted early.
Gray: Acting early and seeing the signs
that something wasn't right with her
and then taking those steps to find out what it was --
even though that's really hard to do --
made all the difference for her.
Narrator: To detect a problem early,
connect early with your child and observe how they
play, learn, speak, and act.
We were so grateful that Cathryn was diagnosed when she was
because it allowed us
to immediately get her the help that she needed.
Narrator: If you suspect a problem, act early.
If your child's development seems to slow down
or your child loses skills,
seek a doctor's advice immediately.
Most of the time, a developmental problem
is not something children grow out of on their own,
but with help, these children can reach their full potential.
[ Child giggling ]