Case Study of a Child with Down Syndrome Presenting with Global Developmental Delay: Clinical History and Intervention Recommendations

Abstract

This case study outlines the clinical history, treatment, and progress of a 2.5-year-old male diagnosed with Down syndrome and global developmental delay (GDD). The boy was experiencing developmental delay, not speaking, limitations in his cognitive skill, deficits in adaptive functioning, and deficits in social functioning. For 16 months, the child participated in a structured program using applied behaviour analysis (ABA), relationship development intervention (RDI), and play therapy. Treatment sessions involved play and activities that stimulated musical interaction, recognition of objects, eating adaptively, greeting appropriately, and structured play, which was reinforced with home practice using the same activities. The child demonstrated gradual improvement in eye contact, attention span, social reciprocity, and adaptive functioning across treatment phases, and however, expressive language and cognitive flexibility remained limited. These skills progressed over timed, structured, and family-centred intervention, supporting the evidence of the importance of early, intensive interventions for children diagnosed with Down syndrome and GDD. This case study provides evidence that implementing a treatment program using a multimodal intervention approach, including behaviour-based, relational, and play-based approaches, has some positive meaningful contributions towards developmental progress and potentially positively influences prognosis for children with complex neurodevelopmental factors.