What is global developmental delay?
Global developmental delay refers to a child displaying slow development in all developmental domains.
Give examples of global developmental delay
- Down’s syndrome
- Fragile X syndrome
- Fetal alcohol syndrome
- Rett syndrome
- Metabolic disorders
Give examples of gross motor delay
- Cerebral palsy
- Ataxia
- Myopathy
- Spina bifida
- Visual impairment
Give examples of fine motor delay
- Dyspraxia
- Cerebral palsy
- Muscular dystrophy
- Visual impairment
- Congenital ataxia (rare)
Give examples of language delay
- Specific social circumstances, for example exposure to multiple languages or siblings that do all the talking
- Hearing impairment
- Learning disability
- Neglect
- Autism
- Cerebral palsy
Briefly describe how language delay is managed
Management of language delay involves a referral to speech and language, audiology and the health visitor. Referral to safeguarding is required if neglect is a concern.
Give examples of personal and social delay
- Emotional and social neglect
- Parenting issues
- Autism
What screening tool is used to assess child development?
The Denver Developmental Screening test is used as a relatively quick test of children’s abilities and as an assessment of whether they have achieved their age-appropriate developmental milestones.
What are the red flags indicating developmental delay?
There are certain red flags for things that would suggest there is a problem:
- Lost developmental milestones
- Not able to hold an object at 5 months
- Not sitting unsupported at 12 months
- Not standing independently at 18 months
- Not walking independently at 2 years
- Not running at 2.5 years
- No words at 18 months
- No interest in others at 18 months
