Memory and gdd

[Hedgyhoggy]

Ds is 5 and has gdd, functioning at around 2 or 3 year old level. His language is doing great and his understanding is coming on. Every aspect of learning is hard won as you would expect but sometimes I do wonder whether his development is typical of other children with gdd. We live on a farm, he loves animals yet he still can't consistently name common farm animals or do the correct noises. He's putting 4 or 5 words together yet he said the sheep were cows today (he loves cows). This is just one example of many gaps and confusions. I don't know but I kind of imagined that if he was globally delayed to such and such an age then he would be functioning across the board at this level. My 18 month old dd is more reliable at animal noises than ds is? He just seems a bit of an enigma to me...was wondering what others experiences were.

[adrianna22]

Hmm I can see where your coming from. Interesting. I would of said that he may have some disorder with his speech. But usually, as far as I'm aware, to get a diagnosis of a specific speech impediment you can't have any delays. Just have the speech issue. So regarding his Gdd diagnosis this may not be the issue.

I do get what you coming from that if it's just a general delay in all ways, meaning that they were no disorded kind of development going on.

What has the school said? Have you spoken to a speech and Language therapist and spoke of your worries??

[Teawaster]

I think GDD is often used as a term for younger children with delays before further investigations are carried out for other conditions, although not always the case. My DS was originally diagnosed as having mild developmental delay, being later given a diagnosis of aspergers. However even with a firm diagnosis of GDD only, I don't think you have to be at the same level across the board . I think most areas will be delayed, but possibly not all and like everyone there can be strengths and weaknesses.

[Housesoftheholy]

My ds is similar, he is nearly 5 and at the moment described as having developmental delay/learning difficulties. But recently also added social communication difficulties and disordered language. He's awaiting autism assessment.

He is progressing in many ways but there are something's he just doesn't 'get' no matter how many times he does it. Colours is a particular one for him, he cannot name any colours correctly. But I often think he doesn't get the concept at all as he uses colour names totally in the wrong context. For example I say "ds would you like a sandwich?" He will reply "I like a blue one" when he means cheese.

He also gets lots of animals still wrong, like calling tigers dinosaurs.

I think for my ds he does have a language disorder amongst it all, and struggles to understand the function of language.

[Housesoftheholy]

Sorry just re-read your op and in terms of delay being at the same level across the board, that is not always the case with gdd. A child can be diagnosed with gdd if they are delayed in just 2 or more major developmental domains.

So acquisition of skills may still be very 'spikey'. It may give further clues to the nature of your child's needs though as gdd is a catch all for many varying needs.