Global Developmental Delay

What is Global Developmental Delay2,5?

Children with Global Developmental Delay develop more slowly than children of the same age. They
may be delayed in physical, communication, thinking and/ or learning (cognitive) development.
Global Developmental Delay is ongoing and children will have delay continuing into adulthood.
Children with Global Developmental Delay may learn to speak and walk; however, this may be
delayed for their age.

Children require special testing performed by a psychologist to determine their IQ. This testing is not
usually completed until the year before your child attends school e.g. when they are in 4 year old
kindergarten. Many children with Global Developmental Delay will also be classified as having an
intellectual disability after the completion of this testing.

Global Developmental Delay and Communication

Children with Global Developmental Delay are all different; however, many have delayed speech and
language development. Children with Global Developmental Delay may have1,3,4:

delayed ability to use language e.g. put words together to make a sentence (expressive
language)

delayed ability to understand language (receptive language)

delayed use of speech to communicate e.g. may be late talkers or difficult to understand

delayed social skills e.g. may not play the same as kids of the same age

Children with Global Developmental Delay will continue to develop new communication skills, but
they will develop these skills at their own pace. In order to learn new skills, children with Global
Developmental Delay will often need more time to hear and practice new words than another child of
the same age. Children with Global Developmental Delay may also require Augmentative and
Alternative communication (AAC) strategies to develop communication skills.

What are the communication options for my child?

Choosing an appropriate strategy for enhancing your child’s communication will depend on your child
and their specific needs. Your Speech Pathologist will be able to assist you in choosing the best
communication option for your child. Listed below are some strategies commonly used with children
with Global Developmental Delay to enhance communication:

Chat Book
Communication books using photos, line drawings or pictures
© This fact sheet was produced for Yooralla by J. Purnell, J. O’Brien, A. Ng, M. Brown, S. Gracie and D. D’Souza, 4th year Speech Pathology Students, La Trobe
University, 2010.
 Communication boards using photos, line drawings or pictures
Key Word Sign and Gesture (formerly known as Makaton)
Personal Communication Dictionary
Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS)
Use of objects and photos (link to object representations)
Speech Generating Devices
Handouts on these different strategies are available from your Speech
Pathologist.

Where can I get more information?

Websites:

Basic Information and links http://www.connectinfo.com.au/global-developmental-delay/

A mum’s perspective on Global Developmental Delay:

http://www.mollysvoice.org/index.php?id=globaldevelopmentaldelay

Parent tips http://www.theumbrellanetwork.org/global_dev_day.php

Parent support group (Facebook) http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=21562764129

Global Developmental Delay forum for parents

http://www.bubhub.com.au/community/forums/showthread.php?t=238755

Online Videos:

A video made by a mum of a girl with Global Developmental Delay: Tahli’s story
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8T6oNDpij6s&feature=related

A video of a boy with Global Developmental Delay learning to walk and communicate using
pictures at his early intervention centre: Freddie’s story
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RqjgH3hwGnE
References

1
Riou, E., Gosh, S., Francoeur, E., & Shevell, M. (2009). Global Developmental Delay and its Relationship to Cognitive Skills. Developmental Medicine &
Child Neurology, 51, 600-606.

2
Srour, M., Mazer, B., & Shevell, M. (2006). Analysis of the Clinical Features Predicting Etiologic Yield in the Assessment of Global Developmental Delay.
Pediatrics, 118, 139-145.

3
Tervo, R., & Asis, M. (2009). Parents’ Reports Predict Abnormal Investigations in Global Developmental Delay. Clinical Pediatrics, 45 (5), 513-521.

4
Van Der Schuit, M., Segers, E., Van Balkom, H., Stoep, M., & Verhoeven, L. (2010). Immersive Communication Intervention for Speaking and Non-
speaking Children with Intellectual Disability. Augmentative and Alternative Communication, 26 (3), 203-220.

5
Williams, J. (2010). Global Developmental Delay- Globally Helpful? Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology, 52 (3), p227.
© This fact sheet was produced for Yooralla by J. Purnell, J. O’Brien, A. Ng, M. Brown, S. Gracie and D. D’Souza, 4th year Speech Pathology Students, La Trobe
University, 2010.