Developmental Delay (Global)

Global Developmental Delay (GDD) is diagnosed when a child under age 5 shows significant delays in two or more developmental areas: motor skills, speech/language, cognitive abilities, social/emotional development, or daily living skills. It's often used as an early diagnosis when a more specific condition hasn't yet been identified.

What this means for your family: A developmental delay diagnosis means your child needs more time and support to reach milestones. It does NOT define their ceiling — it describes where they are right now. Many children with early developmental delays make significant progress with therapy and some eventually catch up to peers.

Prevalence: Approximately 1-3% of children under age 5 are diagnosed with GDD.

Key fact: "Developmental delay" is often a starting point, not a final diagnosis. As your child grows, the picture may become clearer and lead to a more specific diagnosis — or they may simply catch up.

• Not meeting motor milestones (sitting, crawling, walking) at expected ages
• Delayed speech and language development
• Difficulty with problem-solving or understanding concepts compared to peers
• Challenges with social interaction or play skills
• Delayed self-care skills (feeding, dressing, toileting)
• May have low muscle tone or coordination difficulties

1. Enroll in Early Intervention (ages 0-3) — this is free and provides therapy in your home
2. Get a comprehensive developmental evaluation from a developmental pediatrician
3. Consider genetic testing — many developmental delays have a genetic basis that can guide treatment
4. Start therapies — speech, occupational, and physical therapy based on your child's specific needs
5. Request an IEP evaluation from your school district as your child approaches age 3
6. Document everything — keep records of evaluations, therapy progress, and milestones reached

• Early Intervention (Part C of IDEA): Free services for children birth to age 3 with developmental delays
• IEP (Part B of IDEA): "Developmental Delay" is a qualifying category for special education services ages 3-9
• SSI: May qualify depending on severity and family income
• Medicaid Waiver: Some states offer home and community-based services for children with significant delays