Global developmental delay is the proper terminology for what was referred to as ‘mental retardation’ just a few decades ago. Thankfully, medical professionals have put significant time and effort into this sort of disability and recognized it as such in order to allow you to receive the Canadian Disability Benefits to which you’re entitled.

What is Global Developmental Delay?

A global developmental delay affects every aspect of a person’s life through significant developmental delays in multiple cognitive and adaptive abilities. These delays and deficiencies can present in a multitude of ways including an IQ below 70, trouble adapting to social rules or other activities of daily living. While most people living with global developmental delays require lifelong care to some extent, many are able to learn some degree of self-care and even hold a job with the proper training and supervision.

Symptoms of Global Developmental Delay

As global developmental delay describes a wide variety of disorders and diseases which can cause significant mental delays, the associated symptoms can vary widely. However, there are a set of core symptoms which are used under the Canadian Disability Tax Credit program to classify this sort of disability and distinguish it from other cognitive disorders.

The foremost of these symptoms is the classic “mental retardation” which is defined as having an IQ of less than 70. Even within this seemingly straight forward symptom, there are degrees ranging from mild to severe as the IQ scores are progressively lower. As IQ scores generally correspond with a person’s mental capabilities in many aspects of their life, people living with global developmental delays often present with other mental deficiencies of corresponding degrees including a lack of social inhibitions, delays in learning self-care, oral communication and memory skills among others.

How Canadian Disability Benefits Helps

Canadian Disability Benefits can provide you with decades of experience and help to make sure you receive the maximum benefits to which you’re entitled. Caring for someone with a global developmental delay is an all-consuming task no matter how you look at it, particularly from the perspectives of time and finances. While the ways in which Canadian Disability Benefits can assist in the latter are fairly obvious, we can also help with the former by providing you with ability to afford a professional caregiver on either a full or part-time basis. These professionals can help you learn the things you need to no and also provide you with the “you-time” that all humans require to avoid becoming burned out. Give us a call today and let us start working for you and your family.