Does this sound like Global Development Delay?

[catlit]

Hi I have 3 children Tilly 6, Eliza 4 and Zac 2 years 5 months, who they think has GDD, although he hasnt been diagonised yet. I was just wondering if his symptoms sound like he has GDD to people who already have a child affected by it. He was 11 days late and weighed 5lb 14oz (his sisters were 7lb 1oz and 6lb 14oz, both 10 days late). He was very floppy as a baby, he didn't sit up until around 9 months unaided. He had bad reflux too, and he dropped to the 9th/2nd centile, he had tests to make sure he didn't have celiac disease. He was also born with hernia, where the tube that the testicles decended didnt close up. They were also worried about his head size, as he had a pronounced forehead and a flat back of the head...although now he seems have grown into his head!! He didn't start walking until he was about 2, due to having hyperflexible hips and ankles and has just been signed off from pyhsio. He is also delayed in his speech, and is having speech therapy. He has had grommits put in. At the moment he says about 12 words.

Hello, my DD2 (2.11) has GDD and sensory Processing disorder. She sat at 11 months, bottom shuffled at 18 months and can just about walk using a kaye walker, but not unaided. This is mainly due to balance issues though. She doesn't feed herself or give herself a drink. Her speech and interaction skills are at apporx 18mo-2yrs level. Her single word vocab is over 500 words, however she only puts 3 words together. Her understanding is quite poor and is apparantly at a 1 word level.

Physically it sounds like Zak is ok. I don't know about the hernia issue, it's not something I've had to deal with. Saying 12 words at 2.5 is delayed but I know some NT children who were non verbal until almost 3, and now they're fine. If he's had glue ear this would have really impacted his speech too so he may just need to catch up now he has his grommets in.

Do you think his understanding is ok? How about his self help skills like self feeding, drinking, dressing etc? Can Zak manage stairs?

GDD is such a broad term, and it covers everything. I find the paeds sit behind this dx until about 5. By this time it's either easier to dx something more specific because simply they are older, or various tests have all been done, so a dx can be made.

DD2 has had the MRI and blood tests and all were inconclusive. Apart from having an immature brain that is slightly odd in shape that's it. Blood tests all negative.

Someone more knowledgable than me is sure to come along soon. Maybe they can help you more.
x

Sounds like he is doing well to me. Really he just sounds a little delayed in certain areas. As PP said it may be very difficult to dx until he is older.

I know NT children who didn't walk until they were 2 and several who had no clear speech until well past 3 yrs.

The fact he has been signed off physio is very promising. My DD has hypermobility and low/fluctuating muscle tone - didn't walk until 20 months but is nowhere near being signed off by physio and she's 3!!

Thanks for your messages. We as parents have always thought that he is only just slightly delayed, as he seems to catch up eventually. The nursery he goes too are getting all worked up about it, with the HV. He is being assesed by a SENCO person tomorrow at nursery and being assesed again by the HV next month.

He has only just started to walk up the stairs at nursery, within the last two months, but he refuses to walk up the stairs at home, and crawls up and very rarely crawls down them. His understanding isn't very good, he can do one word commands, like Zac get your beaker. The speech therapist thinks this is a concertration problem. He is no way near dressing or undressing himself, he rarely tries to take his shoes off, which his sisters did all the time at his age! He is still on beakers with lids and is no way near using a cup, and feeding he does use a fork, but usually ends up using his fingers to pick food up or throw on the floor!

Thank you for your comments

Cat

He was very floppy as a baby, he didn't sit up until around 9 months unaided.... He didn't start walking until he was about 2, due to having hyperflexible hips and ankles and has just been signed off from pyhsio.... He is also delayed in his speech, and is having speech therapy. He has had grommits put in. At the moment he says about 12 words.

HI Catlit

I would say:

Reflux can be due to the low muscle tone generally, because it is a sphincter muscle that prevents stomach contents rising up.

Sitting is within normal range, I think.

Hearing problems will impact on speech, so if he has only just had grommits, you can't expect him to have had lots of words until now.

If he hasn't been hearing commands, it will take him a while to catch up on his understanding of them.

To be honest, GDD is just a catch-all phrase for saying "Hmm, think something might be going on, could grow out of it, but we don't know why he/she is behind". It generally refers to a significant delay in 2 or more areas.

The key, which I think we would all say here, having been treading this path for a while, is just go with any assessment that seems to benefit your child and lead to them getting help that they need. Only start 'sweating the small stuff' when either there is no benefit for your child, or you totally disagree with the verdict.

Hi Catlit, sounds like little Zak is doing fine. It doesn't hurt to involve some professionals and get an opinion. I personally never say no to help, but then DD2 is more severely delayed.

It sounds like speech is the main delay and this is already being dealt with, but even this isn't too bad.

Does he stick his tongue out? or lick food from around his lips? Can he blow out a candle? and suck through a straw? If he's had glue ear this can be a very big reason as to why he has speech delay.

Hi

Thanks for all your messages...I think I will wait to see what happens with all the assements...I have a feeling they will say hes is fine!! To answer your questions mumgoingcrazy he has never poked his tongue out, or licked food from his lips, not sure about blowing a candle, but he can suck through a straw. His glue ear only appeared 6 months ago, we only know this because since he was born he has had yearly hearing tests as he has a sinus by the side of his ear. We had an extra hearing test as he wasnt speaking, and the peadatrition we were seeing wanted to rule out deafness.