Parenting is an incredible journey filled with the happiness of a baby attaining each developmental milestone, from those first tentative steps to hearing your child's first words. However, for some children, these development stages may not unfold as expected, raising concerns about Global Development Delay (GDD).
Global development delay (GDD) refers to significant delays in reaching development milestones at particular growth periods, like motor, cognition, language, and social skills, usually diagnosed in early childhood.
Here we’ll explore the signs and symptoms of global development delay, shedding light on a topic that many parents grapple with. This offers insights that can help navigate this challenging terrain.
Signs and symptoms of global development delay
Here are some common global development delay symptoms:
- Delay in motor skills: Difficulty achieving developmental milestones like rolling over, sitting up, crawling, and walking.
- Challenges with fine motor skills: Difficulty with tasks that require precision such as grasping objects or buttoning clothes. This can impact a child's ability to perform daily activities.
- Problems understanding speech: Difficulty comprehending and following spoken instructions or conversations. Many struggle to respond appropriately to verbal communication.
- Trouble with problem-solving:Difficulty in solving simple problems or understanding cause-and-effect relationships. May find it challenging to adapt to new situations or routines.
- Issues with social skills: Difficulty in engaging with peers or forming age-appropriate relationships. Many may struggle with sharing, taking turns, or understanding social cues.
- Delayed speech or nonverbal communication:Late or limited speech development is a hallmark of global development delay. Some children may rely on gestures or nonverbal communication to express themselves.
- Memory Challenges: Difficulty in retaining and recalling information. May have trouble remembering simple instructions or details.