motor development delay or regression , and unsteadiness in a child - NICE guidance - suspected neurological conditions - recognition and referral
Last edited 05/2019 and last reviewed 05/2023
Motor development delay or regression, and unsteadiness
Summary points from NICE guidance relating motor development delay or regression, and unsteadiness in children are:
New-onset gait abnormality
- refer immediately children with new-onset gait abnormality to acute paediatric services.
Motor development delay
Refer children to a child development service, and consider referring for physiotherapy or occupational therapy, in consideration of possible cerebral palsy, if they:
- are not sitting unsupported by 8months (corrected for gestational age) or
- are not walking independently by 15 months (girls) or 18 months (boys) (corrected for gestational age) or
- show early asymmetry of hand function (hand preference) before 1 year (corrected for gestational age).
If the child is a boy, consider measuring creatinine kinase level to exclude Duchenne muscular dystrophy before the boy has had a specialist review.
Motor development regression
- refer children with motor development regression to a paediatric neurodevelopmental service or paediatric neurology depending on locally agreed pathways.
- if the child is a boy, consider measuring creatinine kinase level to exclude Duchenne muscular dystrophy before the boy has had a specialist review.
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