[Rockstar]

My youngest child 2.5 yrs has today officially been diagnosed with Global Development delay. She has problems in speech,processing,fine and gross motor skills.
She is on the wait list for early intervention for speech and OT.
Is this permanent? Or will the intervention help and she will "grow out of it"?
I already have a child with High Functioning Autism and another with Down Syndrome. So you'd think I'd be used to it all by now. But it stings when you find out another child has something else wrong with them.
I had just been putting her problems down to speech and thought she would just develop in her own time. I hadn't realised she had other delays as well.

Any advice/stories appreciated.

[JuliaGulia]

Hi.

My DD has GDD. She is significantly delayed in all areas, and was "diagnosed" quite young. She is 2 years, 9.5 months, and was initially diagnosed at just over 12 months.

I would imagine you are headed down the diagnosis elimination path (if you have not already been down that road). We have had countless tests down, mostly to rule out various diagnoses. So far, there is no explanation for her delay.

The expected outcomes would depend, I would think, on whether or not you get an explanation for the delay. As we have no explanation, noone can really tell us what to expect. So we just keep going, hoping to get her as far as we can.

We do expect that she will walk, communicate in some fashion, and hopefully be able to self-care as much as possible. We actually think (and so have most of her therapists) that she is quite clever, but the developmental delays are preventing her from expressing it. We still hope to find the key that will unlock it all, IYKWIM.

Yes, it stings, a lot. But I guess you just keep putting one foot in front of the other.

Anyway, I am happy to chat and answer any questions if I can.

[Rockstar]

Thanks.
My girl does walk and run etc quite fine. I too think she is quite smart. I thought she was fine with her motor skills. Apparently not though.

[TeamBlue]

Hi my DS#1 is 4in april he has this, i too thought speech was his main problem although i had questioned some of his behaviour. My DS can not pedal a trike, but is currently learning skills like holding pencils, cutlery etc in EI.In ST he is working on things that describe things like" boy is sitting"or "girl is jumping". He is getting more confident in some areas We are trailing the elimanation path of the cause of the GDD now,although i partly don't want to know

[Rockstar]

The specialist hasn't mentioned an Elimination path as yet. They had suggested a hearing test when I was only back then querying her lack of speech. She can hold a pencil (has decorated my walls often ) She does attempt to use a spoon to feed herself but usually resorts to hands. Her speech is minimal. She says only a couple of words clearly, it is mainly sounds that she makes, and I had got her to put two words together but she does it a couple of times and doesn't do it again.

Now we just wait and once she is in EI things should start rolling.

[DreamMum]

my DD1 has GDD was diagnosed early as well 12 months. Intervention helps for sure - Children with GDD some develop with leap and bounds as they get older but I think they'll always be alittle behind in some areas.

mine is registered with DSC and we get continious support from their therapist - now shes at Kindy and with aide time she seems to be settling in well but I dont think she'd be where she is if she hadn't had all the therapy the last 3 years!

[Guest_Cat©_*]

GDD at such a young age is no indication of the future possibilities. Children that are quite delayed at young ages can make massive leaps ahead and by school age can be in the norm.

I have Joshua who was GDD diagnosed at 15mnths....ended up by age 2 1/2 with an autism diagnosis...intellectually he is above average but his behavioural and self care skill lack seriously.

Kayne was GDD, diagnosed at 3 with PDD_NOS later to be changed to aspergers (not officially as yet)...he is normal in every way (except some communication issues, and is in remedial classes for english/reading etc)

Corbyn was diagnosed as GDD age 10mnths, reassesed at 6 and diagnosed as intellectually impared.

Noah Is GDD diagnosed at 3 but by the looks of it will be fine by around 5ish....some sensory issues, some social issues but thats all (yippee)

So GDD in early age can mean anything from autism, to intellectual imparement to jsut delayed with a great catch up!!
By the things you wrote your daughter isnt too delayed, hopefully with some early intervention she will catch up beautifully!

I do know what you mean when you hear that one more may have some special needs.....Im still waiting and hoping Ethan is ok....

[luckybug80]

Hi
We have a similar situation. DD is almost 3 with a diagnosis of GD(severe)and Autism(low functioning). She also has Epilepsy but thankfully it seems to be under control. Although she's not walking she is able to weight-bear and has no trouble crawling after me (and grizzling)in the hope of yet again being picked up! DD also has no speech and needs us to address all her care needs. We have started role modelling 2 signs(Makaton)in the hope of developing her communication skills. Nice to read positive posts about kids in similar situations.

[crazychick]

My youngest child 2.5 yrs has today officially been diagnosed with Global Development delay. She has problems in speech,processing,fine and gross motor skills.
She is on the wait list for early intervention for speech and OT.
Is this permanent? Or will the intervention help and she will "grow out of it"?
I already have a child with High Functioning Autism and another with Down Syndrome. So you'd think I'd be used to it all by now. But it stings when you find out another child has something else wrong with them.
I had just been putting her problems down to speech and thought she would just develop in her own time. I hadn't realised she had other delays as well.

Any advice/stories appreciated.

[crazychick]

Hi.

My DD has GDD. She is significantly delayed in all areas, and was "diagnosed" quite young. She is 2 years, 9.5 months, and was initially diagnosed at just over 12 months.

I would imagine you are headed down the diagnosis elimination path (if you have not already been down that road). We have had countless tests down, mostly to rule out various diagnoses. So far, there is no explanation for her delay.

The expected outcomes would depend, I would think, on whether or not you get an explanation for the delay. As we have no explanation, noone can really tell us what to expect. So we just keep going, hoping to get her as far as we can.

We do expect that she will walk, communicate in some fashion, and hopefully be able to self-care as much as possible. We actually think (and so have most of her therapists) that she is quite clever, but the developmental delays are preventing her from expressing it. We still hope to find the key that will unlock it all, IYKWIM.

Yes, it stings, a lot. But I guess you just keep putting one foot in front of the other.

Anyway, I am happy to chat and answer any questions if I can.