What is GDD?
Global Developmental Delay (GDD)
is a term describing a child that has a significant delay in two or more
developmental areas compared to other children their age. It is
important to understand that Global Developmental Delay
is not a diagnostic term. A young child learns new skills as they
interact with their world.
These skills become more sophisticated as they grow – this is referred to as development. For example, a child may lift their foot to take their first step and with repeated attempts, eventually achieve walking independently.
There is a variation in age range for when a child achieves a new skill as all children develop at different rates. A delay is suspected when a children does not achieve a skill that is expected within a certain age range. They may develop a skill much slower than other children of the same age.
The areas of development include:
· Movement: overall body movements e.g. sitting up, walking, picking up objects
· Communication: how children communicate and understand language e.g. babbling, imitating a sound
· Thinking: how children think, perceive, understand and learn about the world
· Social and emotional: how children interact with others
· Activities of daily living: everyday tasks e.g. getting dressed
Acquiring a new skill is identified through developmental milestones. These are certain skills achieved within a typical age range such as sitting up and smiling. These milestones are often observed in a child’s early years hence a delay is usually identified during infancy. Your doctor or paediatrician may ask you to document the age at which your child reaches these milestones.
(Adapted from Royal Children's Hospital, 2009)
These skills become more sophisticated as they grow – this is referred to as development. For example, a child may lift their foot to take their first step and with repeated attempts, eventually achieve walking independently.
There is a variation in age range for when a child achieves a new skill as all children develop at different rates. A delay is suspected when a children does not achieve a skill that is expected within a certain age range. They may develop a skill much slower than other children of the same age.
The areas of development include:
· Movement: overall body movements e.g. sitting up, walking, picking up objects
· Communication: how children communicate and understand language e.g. babbling, imitating a sound
· Thinking: how children think, perceive, understand and learn about the world
· Social and emotional: how children interact with others
· Activities of daily living: everyday tasks e.g. getting dressed
Acquiring a new skill is identified through developmental milestones. These are certain skills achieved within a typical age range such as sitting up and smiling. These milestones are often observed in a child’s early years hence a delay is usually identified during infancy. Your doctor or paediatrician may ask you to document the age at which your child reaches these milestones.
(Adapted from Royal Children's Hospital, 2009)