"Identifying children with motor delays and, theoretically or hopefully will set them on a better path," said Meghann Lloyd, who studies motor development at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology in Oshawa, Canada.
Lloyd, who was not involved in the new report, calling it "a huge step forward for the field."
Dr. Garey Noritz and colleagues in neuromotor screening AAP expert panel lay out skills that a child must be developed by an office visit at the age of 9, 18, 30 and 48 months.
For example, a baby 9-month-old should be able to roll on both sides, sits well without support and grasp objects. At 18 months, the child should be able to walk, sit and stand on its own.
Pediatricians should also ask parents open-ended questions about their child's progress and watch the games children for signs of delay or loss of motor skills at well-child visits, the panel said.
On general examination, the doctor recommended that measures the size of the child's head and see the muscles, reflexes and eye movements.
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, a government-backed expert panel, said in 2006 there was not enough evidence to recommend for or against screening instrument designed to detect voice and language delay in young children. The task force did not have to delay motor screening recommendations in general.
"The AAP ... recognized that we as a profession do not always do a good job screening for motor problems," Noritz, of Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, told Reuters Health.
Cerebral palsy and muscular dystrophy are two of the most common diseases associated motors and both can be picked up and treated earlier than they usually are now, according to Noritz.
He said the family often refer to "diagnostic odyssey" involved in getting a definitive diagnosis for a sick child.
"We hope that people get to a specialist more quickly and thus can be diagnosed more quickly, but that the primary care physician at the same time when they were looking for a diagnosis, will refer to (the child) to therapy," he said
PROMOTE MOVEMENT
There are normal variations in how children develop, Lloyd said - so if a child is a few months late running, for example, parents should not be too worried.
But the longer the delay, or a combination of some motor problems, is a good reason for visits to the pediatrician, she told Reuters Health.
"Another type of movement does not seem right, such as tremor or rigidity or some sort of repetitive motor movements will be another red flag for me," added Lloyd.
Typical motor delay was not the result of a more serious condition is treated with physical therapy or occupational.
Parents can bring their children to the early movements like Kindergym program to promote the development of motor skills, Lloyd said, regardless of other treatments and whether or not they are delayed.
Have poor motor skills in general "set you on the path of the low level of physical activity, which of course is related to obesity," he said.
"Prevention is the delay or the promotion of motor skills can really affect your health for your life."
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