Clinicians should be aware of developmental milestones for children and especially areas of concern that may prompt referral of a child for further evaluation. Pediatric clinicians should carefully monitor developmental progress in children born preterm.
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The first years of development are crucial for lifelong learning and development. Milestones follow predictable courses in infants and children, and later developmental skills build on previous ones achieved. Understanding normal development can help clinicians to recognize delayed development. Early identification of developmental delays allows for referral to therapeutic services, and children referred for early intervention are more likely to make gains in developmental milestones. Research into outcomes of intervening early in a child’s life has shown a great variety of benefits when a child receives needed speech/language therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, or special education services in a language-rich preschool classroom environment. (1)(...
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