Recognizing & Understanding Global Developmental Delay GDD

A Quick Guide

Global Developmental Delay (GDD) is a condition where a child experiences delays in multiple areas of development, including cognitive, motor, speech and language, and social and emotional skills. It affects around 1-3% of the population and requires early intervention and comprehensive evaluation. Treatment options include therapies such as speech therapy, occupational therapy, applied behavioral analysis, and physiotherapy, along with parental involvement and support. Concerns about a child’s development should be discussed with their GP.

What is a Global Developmental Delay GDD?

A developmental delay is when a child is behind their peers in physical, mental, emotional, and social functioning in life. If a child is behind in more than one of these areas leading to significantly lower intellectual functioning then it’s called global developmental delay GDD.  Around 1-3% of the population is affected by it. These children do not reach the appropriate developmental milestones at the estimated age.  Development in children can be divided into four primary categories:

Cognitive Skills

Cognitive skills are the capacity to comprehend new knowledge, process it, organize one’s thoughts, and retain it.

Motor Skills

The term “motor skills” refers to both gross motor skills like standing up or rolling over and fine motor skills like picking up small things and writing etc.

Speech and language Skills

Speech and language skills include babbling, mimicking speech, and sound recognition. It also entails being aware of what others are trying to say to them.

Learn more about Speech And Language Delay In Children

Social and Emotional Skills 

It refers to interacting with other people and improving personality characteristics and emotional responses, beginning to see and address the needs and emotions of others. Children should achieve certain milestones in each of these categories. Delays in multiple categories characterize Global Developmental delay GDD.  For some children, their delays are identified early due to muscle tone or feeding difficulties. Whereas at times, the delays may be suspected later when they show up in behavioral difficulties at school.

Causes 

While there is no exact cause to be identified, some of the most common ones may just relate to the family history of chromosomal, genetic abnormalities, or structural or developmental abnormalities of the brain and spinal cord.  Moreover, complications during pregnancy such as infections and exposure to environmental toxins could also lead to GDD. Another cause can be premature birth and low birth weight. 

How to recognize global developmental delay?

Some of the signs and symptoms of GDD include the following: 

• Aggression as a coping mechanism
• Being late in developmental milestones such as sitting, crawling, walking
• Communication issues
• Deficits in social skills
• Gross and Fine motor issues
• Limited intellectual functioning

Children with GDD frequently need more extensive support in school settings in order to acquire new abilities, learn more quickly, and keep pace with their peers. Every kid with GDD will experience their condition in a unique way, therefore it’s critical to conduct a thorough evaluation to pinpoint your child’s present level of skills in addition to their strengths and limitations.

Read Understanding Cerebral Palsy & Developmental Delays

Treatment Options

Some of the available treatment options for GDD include the following therapies:

• Speech Therapy
• Occupational Therapy
• Applied Behavioral Analysis ABA
• Physiotherapy

No matter if it’s at home, a daycare, a preschool, or a school, early and intensive intervention is most effective when it’s given in the child’s surroundings. Giving parents and caregivers the assistance, instruction, and resources they require to assist their kids in achieving their early intervention program goals is also crucial as parental participation is essential to a child’s success. Children with GDD can thrive and realize their full potential with the correct type and amount of support from professionals and their families. You should initially discuss with your child’s GP if you have concerns about their development.

We hope you found this article useful for understanding more about Global developmental delay GDD in children.