What means
Global Developmental Delay () is a term used when a child under five is delayed in two or more of these areas:
- Communication – speech, understanding, social interaction
- Motor skills – fine (holding a pencil) and gross (walking, running)
- Cognition – thinking, problem-solving, learning
- Social and emotional – playing, responding to others, managing feelings
- Daily living – feeding, dressing, toileting
is a description, not a single diagnosis. It tells you where a child needs support right now.
vs learning disability
is used for young children. A learning disability diagnosis is usually given later, when it is clearer how a child is developing over time.
Some children with :
- Catch up with support and no longer need the label
- Continue to need support and are later diagnosed with a learning disability
- Are found to have an underlying condition (genetic, metabolic, or neurological)
Common causes
Doctors may look for:
- Genetic conditions (e.g. Down's syndrome, Fragile X)
- Brain differences before or after birth
- Hearing or vision loss
- Premature birth or low birth weight
- Environmental factors
Sometimes no cause is found — and that is okay. The focus shifts to support.
What to ask your paediatrician
- "Which areas of development are delayed?"
- "Should we see a genetics team?"
- "What early support can we start now?"
- "When will we review this?"
What families say
"We were told 'wait and see' for two years. Starting speech therapy at 18 months changed everything — even before we had a diagnosis."