Global Developmental Delay (GDD) and the NDIS Explained

You may have heard the term “global developmental delay” in regard to your child’s development. But what is global developmental delay – and what does it mean for your family? We’ve created a helpful guide to get you across the key information, plus similarities and differences to other terms.

What is Global Developmental Delay (GDD)?

Developmental milestones are based on key skills most children achieve by certain ages – smiling, rolling, taking their first steps, saying their first words. They’re used to help track how a child is growing and developing, though every child is different and will learn skills at their own pace within developmental milestone ‘windows’. When a child takes longer than this to learn certain skills, this is known as a developmental delay.

Global Developmental Delay is a term used to describe two or more significant delays in children aged 0-18 years. GDD isn’t considered a specific medical diagnosis, but rather a catch-all term for multiple developmental delays. Delays present differently in everyone, but the broad developmental areas concerned include:

• Motor skills (gross motor development and fine motor development)
• Speech and language skills
• Cognitive development
• Social development
• Emotional development

If or when your child’s care team finds a cause for the delay, they’ll use the more appropriate term from that point on.

 

 

What does global developmental delay look like?

Children with GDD will often appear younger or less developed than other children their age. Common signs of global developmental delay include:

• Delay in babbling or cooing in infants, or delay in talking for toddlers and young children (speech and language delays)
• Limited eye contact
• Lack of curiosity
• No interest in socialising during play activities
• Not responding to sounds, smiles or gestures
• Clumsiness or lack of coordination when moving
• Difficulty with fine motor skills (like gripping crayons)
• Trouble with self-care tasks like making their bed, getting dressed (self-help skills) 

Note: Needing early support doesn’t mean there’s something “wrong”, or that your child is failing at something. Everyone has different needs! That’s why early intervention services are available – to make sure your child has the best start in life, whatever their unique needs are.

How long is considered a ‘significant delay’?

Child development is a complex area. Infants, toddlers and older children all have different skills developing at different times – it’s normal to see some variation between what children can do by certain ages.

For GDD, the delays must have continued for at least 6 months.

It’s important to note that you know your child better than anyone else. If you’re feeling concerned about their development, talk to your GP, paediatrician or child and family health nurse. They can assess your child or refer you to other professionals who can help (like an occupational therapist, speech pathologist, or an audiologist).

What causes global developmental delay?

There’s no universal cause; there are many factors which can impact a child’s development, including genetic factors and environmental ones. In many cases the exact cause isn’t known.

Some causes of global developmental delay include:

• Physical illness
• Environmental factors like diet or stress
• Injuries or infections of the brain (like head injury or meningitis)
• Long periods in hospital
• Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder
• Metabolic disorders
• Genetic disorders (such as Fragile X syndrome)
• Problems in pregnancy or during birth (such as premature birth, low birth weight, blood loss, or lack of oxygen to the baby)

Global developmental delay can also be more common in children living with pre-existing conditions such as Down syndrome, epilepsy, or problems with hearing or vision.

Whether or not your child receives a more specific diagnosis over time, you can still access the extra help they need to grow and thrive through mainstream programs or the NDIS.

Is global developmental delay the same as intellectual disability?

Developmental delay doesn’t always mean your child has an intellectual disability. Some children simply need a little extra help with cognitive skills and will catch up at their own pace. Other times, significant developmental delays may be a sign of longer-term disability needs. Research tells us that earlier intervention leads to better outcomes – this gives your child the best help in developing certain skills.

If your child has long-term developmental delays, these may be referred to as developmental disabilities – such as learning disabilities, intellectual disability and cerebral palsy. Again, if the doctor or specialist you’re working with has a more specific diagnosis for the delay, they will use that term instead of global developmental delay.

Global developmental delay vs Autism Spectrum Disorder

Autism spectrum disorder is a neurodevelopmental disorder separate from global developmental delay. There may be a crossover in some symptoms, but there’s a noticeable difference between the two as children grow older.

Children on the autism spectrum will show signs that are not typical of global developmental delay, like:

• Limited copying of those around them (noises, gestures, speech)
• Repeated actions like rocking or flapping their hands
• Restrictive actions (such as becoming fixated on one toy or topic)
• Being unresponsive in social contact with others

However, some of the behaviours that are typical to autism spectrum disorder may not be as noticeable until your child is older – around 6 to 9 years of age (9 being the minimum age for NDIS eligibility in most cases. Some exceptions may apply depending on your child’s needs.)

Related: NDIS Eligibility: A Complete Guide on How to Apply for Funding

The NDIS and global developmental delay

Children with GDD may be eligible for NDIS support. This is because a child with developmental delay needs a lot of extra help with everyday things compared to children of the same age.

You can determine if your child is eligible for the NDIS, or for other mainstream supports, by working with an early childhood partner (ECP). This is currently covered under the NDIS Early Childhood Approach (ECA).

What is the Early Childhood Approach?

Formerly Early Childhood Early Intervention (ECEI), ECA helps children under 6 with developmental delay or under 9 with disability-related needs. It allows faster access to support services, so your child can have the best start in life.

The ECA is an early intervention program that works with ECPs to identify your child’s needs, and help connect you to local support services (early connections). You can also access certain therapies like occupational therapy, physical therapy, positive behaviour support or speech pathology through ECA.

Related: Early Childhood Approach (ECA) and the NDIS Explained

Can children be NDIS participants?

Yes, in certain circumstances – if they meet the eligibility criteria, you can apply for your child to become a NDIS participant. Your Early Childhood Partner will work with you to determine whether this is the case and help you develop their individual NDIS plan once they are transitioned into the NDIS system.

Important information: The Australian Government has announced changes to the NDIS that may impact how your child receives supports for developmental delay or disability needs.

The Thriving Kids program (starting mid-2026) will divert children with low to moderate needs from the NDIS, by strengthening existing mainstream services like Medicare, GPs, early childhood centres and telehealth. More information is available in our update NDIS vs Thriving Kids: What you need to know.

What kind of supports are available for GDD?

Early Supports

Early supports are focused on building capacity and promoting everyday learning. These might be based in your home or in community environments, depending on your child’s needs. Your ECP can connect you with these services and supports.

NDIS Supports

The kinds of support children who are active NDIS participants can get include therapies and interventions, assistive technology, capacity building supports to help get them ready for school or social situations, and core supports to help with daily activities at home and in the community.

5 helpful tips for families navigating the NDIS

If this is your first experience with the NDIS, it can feel overwhelming – especially when you may already be feeling stressed or worried about your child’s GDD.

Here are five beginner-friendly tips for navigating the NDIS:

1. Keep thorough records of reports and assessments. You can use these as evidence for the supports your child needs at planning meetings or reviews.
2. Be clear about goals. NDIS plan supports are tied to participant goals; you’ll need to be clear about which goals will help your child live their best life, and how these relate to NDIS supports.
3. Don’t be afraid to ask for changes if needed. You have the right to ask for a plan review at any time, or if you’re working with an ECP they can help you get the right kind of help for your child.
4. Connect with support groups or community groups if possible. Journeys are easier when you’re not doing it alone! It can be a relief to hear from others going through the same thing.
5. Consider plan management. A plan manager handles the financial aspects of your child’s NDIS plan, helping you make the most of available funds and keeping your spending compliant with NDIS guidelines. Having one less thing to worry about never hurts!

Related: How to Get the Support You Need From Your Plan Manager

How NDSP helps you navigate your child’s NDIS journey

Plan management is a great way to get the most out of your child’s NDIS plan budgets, without the administrative responsibility of managing the funding yourself. You’re still able to choose the providers you want, while your plan manager takes on time-consuming tasks like budget tracking, submitting provider invoices for timely payment, and keeping stringent financial records. This way you can focus on your child’s progress, rather than on admin!

NDSP aims to empower you and your family by freeing up your time and energy for more important things – like quality time with your child. We have plenty of free resources in our online participant toolbox, and our Nappa portal means you can view your child’s budgets, in real time, at any hour day or night.

Our friendly team of experts can help you make the most out of your NDIS funding. Why not contact NDSP today if plan management sounds right for you, and find out more about how we can help the financial management of your NDIS plan run smoothly.