It is important to note that taking a history to assess a child's gross motor development is different from taking a history in a child with gross motor delay to determine the cause of the delay. You may be asked (in the history station) to take the history and propose management in a child with gross motor delay.

• Presenting problem
  • What is the concern and when was it noticed
  • What has been the progression of symptoms since then
  • Any other associated features
  • Any precipitating factor
  • Assess the child's  Gross motor milestones. Ascertain when delay was first noticed and progression of symptoms
  • Assess his Speech and language/ fine motor / social milestones- is there any delay? is this a case of global developmental delay?
  • Is there a history of regression?
• Is there a history suggestive of a possible metabolic problem
  • Seizures, usually atypical
  • Ataxia
  • Recurrent somnolence/coma
  • Loss of psychomotor skills
  • Hypotonia
  • "Coarse" appearance
  • Eye abnormalities (cataracts, ophthalmoplegia, corneal clouding, abnormal retina)
• general health
  • Is there a history of chronic disease requiring recurrent admissions to hospital
  • Explore any current health problems
  • Feeding- are there any feeding difficulties? Is the child on a special feed?
• Pregnancy and delivery
  • Maternal illness during pregnancy
  • Intrauterine infection ( rubella, toxoplasmosis, cytomegalovirus)
  • Maternal  metabolic disease
  • use of drugs during pregnancy
• Delivery and neonatal period
  • Perinatal history
  • Prematurity
  • Hypoxia
  • Birth trauma
  • Intracranial hemorrhage
  • Severe jaundice requiring intensive phototherapy or exchange transfusion
• Past medical History
  • Encephalitis, meningitis
  • Head injury
• Current medication
  • When they were started?
  • What dose and any recent changes?
• Social and family history
  • Delayed walking in the family
  • History of neuromuscular disorder
  • How much help is the family currently receiving?
  • Consanguinity
• Current input- is the child receiving adequate service/support
  • Community paediatrician
  • Physiotherapist
  • Occupational therapist
  • Dietician , Social services