This paper investigates the application and reliability of using high-order mode shape derivatives especially, the fourth derivative in damage detection of plate-like structures. Numerical analyses have been carried out for low- and high-order mode shapes of simply supported and cantilever steel plate models. Six scenarios of damages are studied for plate models to represent different damage characteristics. The influence of artificial noise on the damage identification using changes in fourth derivative of mode shapes has been investigated. Based on the numerical studies, it is shown that the fourth derivative of mode shape is promising in detecting and locating structural damage in plate-like structures since it is localized at the damage locations even for a small amount of damage using only one of the mode shapes. Both low- and high-order mode shapes give successful results. Also, damage indices of the fourth derivatives give smoother localization and consequently better damage identification than those of curvature of mode shapes. Furthermore, using high-order modes (which can be measured by advanced sensors) does not improve the results of damage identification using the fourth derivative. Unfortunately, damage detection using changes in fourth derivative of mode shapes is sensitive to measurement noise.