All Communities > Children with Developmental Delays > whats with the label Global Developmental Delay?

whats with the label Global Developmental Delay?

Summer - posted on 09/22/2010 ( 5 moms have responded )

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My son is currently being tested for autism, he also has a genetic disorder and mild CP. He has low tone, poor speech, and has lag on all milestones.His doctor just gave him the label as GDD? I was kinda confused what that meant. Is this just a easy way out to say we have no clue or is this an actually diagnose?

thanks for all your help

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5 Comments

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Fiona-Rhiannon - posted on 05/15/2011

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Your lucky to even get that - my daughter is very behind with her development, her MRI even shows developmental delay, and all her drs say are "Maybe its CP, but we dont want to label her so we'll just say shes a mystery"

Debbie - posted on 03/22/2011

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wow never thought of that no clue cause thats where im at with my son dont eat they dont noe why austim sensory disorder gdd. but with all of this thearpy he is getting something will happen..hang n there we will get the right answers.

Irene - posted on 02/24/2011

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Yep! Good that you have "autism" and "genetic disorder"--they'll help in getting services.

Justine - posted on 09/26/2010

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good question i feel the same,i have a 7 yr old girl and a 5 yr old boy with "gdd" my little boy seems much worse though he cant walk yet and just learning to stand on furniture,he has gone for countless tests but still they cant diagnose him with anything but gdd i have no clue what to do there doesnt seem to be much help or support. im from adelaide,australia

Jessica - posted on 09/23/2010

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It's a really obnoxious term that says all areas of his development are behind. It's a useful term for writing an IEP or IFSP if he isn't qualified for services due to one of his other conditions, but otherwise it takes the place of other labels that are not placed until testing is done at a certain age. For example, educational testing could lead to a more specific diagnosis of 'Learning Disabled' or even Autism. In a sense it really is saying "I don't know" but it's better than placing a label that may not be entirely accurate. My son was labeled GDD also, but we recently discovered the cause so his label will be changing.

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