REASONS FOR CONCERN IN TWELVE MONTH OLD INFANTS

At this age, it is not generally possible to to determine how much significance an infant’s delay(s) will have for later development.  However, by noting problems early and providing appropriate services, the impact of delays may be minimized, skills may be enhanced, and the level of skills may be maintained.  It is important to remember that an infant’s medical history can be critical in determining whether or not a further evaluation or referral for service is necessary.  A particular delay in development may require different responses depending on the infant’s previous medical and developmental course.  For children who have no history of health problems, a "wait and see" approach may be appropriate for some delays.  However, developmental delays in high-risk infants generally warrant more immediate attention.

If you notice any of the behaviors listed below, speak to your child’s primary care provider about your concerns.  Your child’s primary care provider can help decide if your baby needs an evaluation by a pediatric audiologist, pediatric ophthalmologist, developmental psychologist, physical/occupational/speech therapists, or other specialists.

It may be of concern if by 12 months corrected age she:

• does not look at people when they talk to her.
  
  
• does not attempt to communicate, does not point or reach to indicate what she wants.
  
  
• does not turn to sounds nor respond to simple familiar words, such as "no" or "bye."
  
  
• is not sitting independently.
  
  
• is not able to move freely about a room, whether by crawling, creeping, or rolling.
  
  
• stands up on her toes in an upright position, rarely able to bring her heels flat on the floor.
  
  
• only uses one side of the body; when sitting leans heavily to one side, locomotes using only one side of the body, or always reaches and manipulates toys with one arm and hand.
  
  
• looks at a toy or a book bringing the object very close to her eyes.
  
  
• rakes small objects into the hand with the whole fist rather than using fingers or has difficulty picking up small objects.
  
  
• still always reaches with both hands together, never using each hand independently for reaching.
  
  
• cannot hold an object in each hand simultaneously.
  
  
• does not transfer objects from one hand to the other.