Does My Child Have Global Developmental Delay (GDD)

Some children move faster than others as they reach developmental milestones. Even siblings can reach milestones at different rates. In most cases, there is no need to be concerned about minor, short-term delays; however, persistent delays or multiple delays in achieving milestones may indicate difficulties in the future.

What is Global Developmental Delay?

Developmental Delay, or GDD, is more than just being “a little behind” in one area of development. Most of the time, short-term or minor delays in reaching developmental milestones are not cause for concern. Global developmental delay, on the other hand, occurs when a child takes longer than other children their age to reach particular developmental milestones in two or more areas. It refers to infants and young children up to the age of five who exhibit delays that last at least six months. This can include slow development of gross and fine motor skills, as well as impairments in social interaction and learning to walk and talk.

What are the types of GDD?

There are four types of developmental delays in children:

1. Cognitive delay
impairment in a child’s intellectual functioning and overall awareness of his or her surroundings

2. Motor delay
a child’s ability to coordinate the various muscles in their body, such as arms, legs, and hands, determines a child’s motor skills.

3. Social, Behavioral, and Emotional delay
they may seem like they are behind their peers in terms of their ability to learn and interact socially.

4. Speech delay
affects children who have an oral motor condition that interferes with speech, such as weakness in the mouth muscles or trouble moving the tongue or jaw.

Symptoms of Global Developmental Delay

The following are some of the symptoms of GDD that you should look out for in your child:

● Loose extremities or floppy limbs.
● Stiff arms.
● Inability to sit (with or without support) even by nine months of age.
● Excess of involuntary movements.
● Inability to stand or support weight on legs even when the child is one year old.
● Not responsive (to their name or other sounds directed at them
● Dislike socializing with people (avoids cuddling or playing with others).
● Difficulty expressing their emotions and thoughts.
● Inability to complete everyday tasks.
● Lagging thought process or poor logical thinking.

A child with a developmental delay has the same needs as any other child. All children benefit from a warm, secure, and nurturing environment. Feeling wanted and accepted helps build a child’s self-esteem, and gives them the confidence to try new things.

As parents, dealing with GDD symptoms can be stressful and depressing. You are not alone in this! Many others are also struggling to make it one day, one hour at a time.

We’re here to help! Nurture Pods’ goal is simple: help people with special needs achieve their full potential. We recognize that this journey can appear to be impossible, particularly at the beginning, and particularly if you are a parent.
Reach out to us for guidance and information about what support we can offer you.

 

Written by: Alex Liau
Published on 27 January 2023