Atypical development
Atypical development refers to any situation where development does not travel along a typical development trajectory (or sequence). Two important questions to ask when considering the development of a child are:
- Is development interrupted, atypical or delayed?
- Is development static or progressive?
The answer to these questions will guide your clinical reasoning for assessment and intervention.
Terminology such as atypical trajectory and non-progressive diagnoses are explored below, click on each heading to find out more.
Atypical development is characterised by:
| Variety | Limited variety and quality of movement, interaction, engagement, and limited play repertoire |
| Complexity | Limited complexity and stereotyped/poor repertoire of interactions/movements |
| Smooth Transitions | Rapid state changes, absent or difficult to read infant cues indicating state change |
| Exploration | Poor/limited exploration with repetitive attempts |
| Goodness of Fit | Lack of ‘fit’ between child and caregiver |
| Ability to self-regulate | Minimal ability, reliant on caregiver |
| Shared delight | Difficult to elicit delight/motivation or read infant cues displaying delight. |
In the video below you will see a baby with cerebral palsy who has stereotypic movement patterns. His movement difficulties impact upon his ability to reach and play with toys and his exploration of his environment and the people close to him.
Key Point
Any regression in development should not be ignored e.g. sudden loss of ability to crawl or sit. An opinion from the child’s paediatrician or GP should be sought.
