Early Motor Surveillance
To assist you in providing early motor delay surveillance at well child visits, Pathways.org has developed a series of handouts and accompanying videos (below) that compare the movements of two children at 2, 4, and 6 months of age: one developing typically, and one developing atypically.
The number of children with early motor delays has increased dramatically in the past 25 years. Members of the AAP Council on Children with Disabilities estimate as many as 400,000 children born each year are at risk for some form of early motor delay, and 1 in 40 have an early motor delay.
Severe motor abnormalities are usually detected at birth, but milder early motor delays typically manifest as early as 2 months of age. When healthcare providers know what to look for, they are better equipped to recognize the signs of an early motor delay.
It is recommended to examine a child in a variety of positions, looking at the quality and symmetry of the movement rather than the existence or non-existence of a movement.
We encourage you to use these handouts and videos below as a guide to infer whether or not a child should be referred to a specialist.
By identifying and referring infants exhibiting abnormal movement patterns, a giant step will be made toward ensuring that all children are given the opportunity to reach their fullest potential.
 2 Month Comparison Handout |
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 4 Month Comparison Handout |
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 6 Month Comparison Handout |
Watch for comparison handouts through 18 months of age. All handouts are based on the original Zachary and Michael 6 month comparison chart.
