A 9-month-old infant cannot sit without support, does not transfer objects hand to hand, has no stranger anxiety, and does not babble consonant-vowel sounds (e.g., 'baba', 'dada'). He does fix and follow with his eyes. Which domain of development is most significantly delayed?
- A Global developmental delay affecting all domains ✓
- B Language (expressive) development only
- C Gross motor development only
- D Social/personal development only
Explanation
By 9 months, expected milestones include: gross motor — sitting without support (6–9 months), fine motor — transfers objects hand to hand (6–7 months), language — canonical babbling with consonant-vowel combinations 'baba/dada' (6–9 months), and social — stranger anxiety (8–9 months). This child fails milestones in all four domains (gross motor, fine motor, language, and social), indicating global developmental delay (GDD). GDD is defined as significant delay (>2 SD below mean) in ≥2 developmental domains in children <5 years. Isolated delays affect only one domain. GDD warrants comprehensive evaluation including metabolic, genetic, and neuroimaging workup.
Reference: Ghai Essential Pediatrics, 10th ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.