Global Developmental Delay (GDD)
GDD is a subset of developmental disability defined as a significant delay in two or more developmental domains, typically in children under 5 years of age.
1. Key Developmental Domains
| Domain | Focus |
|---|---|
| Gross/Fine Motor | Movement, coordination, and manipulation. |
| Speech/Language | Receptive and expressive communication. |
| Cognitive | Learning, reasoning, and problem-solving. |
| Social/Personal | Interaction and self-care skills. |
2. Etiological Approach
- Genetic/Chromosomal: Down syndrome, Fragile X syndrome, and various metabolic disorders.
- Prenatal/Perinatal: Infections (TORCH), hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), and prenatal toxin exposure.
- Environmental: Severe psychosocial deprivation and malnutrition.
NEET PG Hint: GDD is a clinical diagnosis. Always screen for hearing and vision deficits early, as these often mimic developmental delays. Remember that Intellectual Disability (ID) is usually reserved for a diagnosis made in older children (typically >5 years) when standardized IQ testing is reliable.