Developmental delays are common. As many as 1 in 6 children has a delay. Children develop different skills at different times. If a child is not doing things that most children can do at a certain age, they may have a developmental delay. Developmental delays can occur in one or more of the following areas: 

• Thinking and learning (cognitive) 

• Talking and expressing self (expressive communication) 

• Understanding language (receptive communication) 

• Feeling, expressing, interacting with others (social and emotional) 

• Everyday living skills like eating, dressing, caring for self (adaptive)

 • Walking, moving, seeing and hearing (physical and motor development, including vision and hearing) 

Early Start can help your child catch up in their skills.

A developmental delay can also be a sign of a developmental disability. In California, developmental disabilities are considered lifelong and must exist before age 18. 

The following conditions are considered to be a developmental disability: 

• Autism 

• Cerebral palsy 

• Epilepsy 

• Intellectual disability 

• Other conditions that require treatment similar to a person with intellectual disability 

Early intervention services help babies and young children learn basic and new skills that typically develop during the first three years of life.

Any child under 3 years of age may be eligible if they:

• Have a developmental delay of at least 25% in one or more of the following: 

o Cognitive (thinking and learning) 

o Expressive communication (talking and expressing self) 

o Receptive communication (understanding language) 

o Social and emotional (feeling, expressing, interacting) 

o Adaptive (everyday living skills like eating, dressing, caring for self) 

o Physical and motor development, including vision and hearing (walking, moving, seeing, and hearing) 

• Have an established risk condition of known cause, with a high likelihood of delayed development or; 

• Are likely to have a developmental delay due to a number of risks that have been confirmed by a professional

Eligibility is NOT dependent on 

• Family income 

• Immigration status

You may be asked to see if your family’s medical insurance or another resource will pay for some of the services. Needed services not covered by insurance can be purchased or provided by the regional center. There are resources available to see if you are qualified for little to no cost health care services like Medi-Cal. Some families who don’t receive Medi-Cal may have to pay a small fee for some services.

Yes, picky eating can be something to be concerned about, especially when you find yourself asking this question! While many children go through normal phases of food preferences, persistent or extreme picky eating may signal underlying challenges with oral motor skills, sensory processing, or learned feeding behaviors. As a speech-language pathologist (SLP), we look beyond “just a phase” and consider how a child’s eating patterns impact their nutrition, growth, and participation in family meals. Warning signs might include a very limited range of accepted foods, strong reactions to textures, gagging, or refusal of entire food groups. Early support can help prevent these patterns from becoming more entrenched and ensure that mealtimes are both successful and positive for the child and family.

Pediatric feeding disorders are more than just “picky eating.” They refer to significant difficulties with eating and drinking that impact a child’s ability to get the nutrition they need for growth and development. These challenges can involve medical, oral motor, sensory, and/or psychological factors.

A pediatric feeding disorder may include trouble chewing or swallowing safely, difficulty managing different food textures, strong aversions to certain foods, or limited variety and volume of intake. Some children may gag, cough, refuse to eat, or rely on specific foods, bottles, or feeding routines beyond what is expected for their age.

Feeding disorders are typically identified when these difficulties persist over time and interfere with a child’s health, nutrition, or participation in everyday meals. Early evaluation and support are important to address the underlying causes and help children develop safe, functional, and positive feeding skills.

Yes, supporting children with complex medical needs has been a large piece of Deanna's clinical experience.

She understands that feeding challenges are often closely tied to a child’s medical history whether related to prematurity, neurological differences, gastrointestinal concerns, or other diagnoses. Because of this, she takes a highly individualized and collaborative approach, working alongside your child’s medical team to ensure feeding is safe, supportive, and aligned with their overall health needs.

Deanna's approach is rooted in evidence-based, compassionate, and family-centered care. She believes in empowering families with practical strategies and guidance, so you feel confident supporting your child not just in therapy sessions, but in everyday routines. The goal is to help your child develop safe, functional feeding skills while also making mealtimes more positive and meaningful for your whole family.