Can a Child Outgrow Global Developmental Delay (GDD)?

Each child hits milestones differently.

Global Developmental Delay (GDD) is a multifaceted condition affecting children’s developmental milestones. It is when a young child faces delays in all areas of their development including walking, sitting and talking. This means that the child will reach their milestones much later than their peers (Therapy stars, 2023). 

GDD is defined as the failure to achieve developmental milestones within the expected age range. This has to be a significant delay in 2 or more developmental milestones. These milestones include: 

• Speech and language - difficulty speaking words or understanding what others say 

• Motor skills (fine and gross) - trouble holding objects, coloring and writing. Difficulty rolling over, sitting up or walking 

• Cognition - thinking, learning and understanding information. For example, trouble following directions or solving a problem 

• Social and emotional development - interacting with others, expressing feelings and the ability to communicate needs. For example, struggle with understanding social cues, having a conversation or dealing with routine changes

• Play skills - hand-eye coordination (Cleveland Clinic, 2023). 

The question that often lingers in the minds of parents is whether a child can outgrow this delay. The answer is nuanced and varies from child to child. Developmental delays can be short-term or persisting, stemming from various factors. In some cases, it can be overcome with additional support or therapy. For others, the delay may be more significant and the child will require ongoing support which could indicate a disability. A child with other comorbid conditions like down syndrome or cerebral palsy may also have GDD (Mencap, n.d.). 

Early intervention is pivotal. It is similar to the analogy of planting seeds in fertile soil of a developing mind. For those with minor delays, early support can remarkably improve the delays by bridging the gap so the child can catch up with their peers. For others, the delay is rooted in deeper challenges and more prominent problems such as learning disabilities which require ongoing support. Their brains function differently, making it harder for them to grasp concepts and perform tasks at the same pace as peers (Everyday Independence, 2024). 

The journey is not uniformed. Some children manage to outgrow their delays with minimal intervention needed while many with profound delays require a comprehensive approach. It could also be indicative of underlying health conditions or learning and attention issues further complicating the path in catching up. While a minor delay is not concerning, it could be a sign of GDD if a child falls significantly behind in more milestones, and seeking advice is of utmost importance. With support rendered, a child is in a better position to catch up with their peers. However, if no intervention is provided, it becomes a matter of chance where the delays could worsen over time and make it nigh impossible to catch up later. It is thus ideal to seek support early and help children overcome their challenges when their delay is still small.

Written by: Keisha 

References 

Lukas. (n.d.). Toddler playing soccer [Photograph]. Canva. https://www.canva.com/photos/MADGx5YUpyA/

Cleveland Clinic. (2023). Developmental delay in children. Retrieved from https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/14814-developmental-delay-in-children 

Everyday Independence. (2024). Learn the difference between Global developmental delay and intellectual disability. Retrieved from https://www.everydayind.com.au/ndis/learn-the-difference-between-global-developmental-delay-and-intellectual-disability/ 

Mencap. (n.d.). Global Developmental delay. Retrieved from https://www.mencap.org.uk/learning-disability-explained/conditions/global-development-delay 

Therapy Stars. (2023). Can a child outgrow Global Developmental delay? Retrieved from https://therapystars.co.uk/can-a-child-outgrow-global-development-delay/