Developmental delay in children
Delay in motor, speech, or cognitive development in young children. International guidelines (AAP 2020, AACAP) emphasise early diagnosis of the cause – autism, sensorineural disorders, ASD, metabolic conditions – and early behavioural, speech, and occupational therapy intervention. Peptide preparations and nootropics are not included.
ICD-10 F80-F893 drugs
Also known as: Developmental delay, Speech delay
Marketing claims without evidence base
The drug is promoted for these uses outside international guidelines. Each entry below is analyzed against AEMPS, FDA, EMA, Cochrane and major RCTs.
- DGlycine (as a marketed «nootropic»)Not recommended · Other psychostimulants and nootropics (local classification)Glycine is an amino acid sold as a "nootropic" and offered to children with delayed psychomotor and speech development. Studies have not shown convincing benefit for this use, and there is no evidence base behind it. What actually helps with developmental delay is early intervention: work with a speech therapist and a special-education specialist, plus follow-up with a clinician who looks for the cause of the delay. The substance itself is harmless in this role, but it should not replace treatment with proven benefit, or the child loses time on care that genuinely works.
- DPiracetamNot recommended · Old «nootropics» (local classification)In children with developmental delay, ADHD, or dyslexia, piracetam is not mentioned in international pediatric guidelines, and AAP and ESCAP do not include it in standards of care. Convincing benefit for these uses has not been shown. Proven help comes from early behavioral intervention, speech and special-education therapy, and, for confirmed ADHD, psychotherapy and stimulants on strict indication. Piracetam should not replace these approaches, since it costs a child time during the early window when intervention works best.
- FCortexin (bovine brain cortex polypeptides)Not recommended · Other psychostimulants and nootropics (local classification)In children with developmental and speech delay, Cortexin is not mentioned in international pediatric and neurological guidelines. AAP and ESCAP do not include peptide «nootropics» in standards of care. Evidence-based approaches are early behavioral intervention, speech and special education therapy, and psychiatric care when indicated. Pharmacotherapy for specific symptoms (ADHD, autistic traits) uses agents with proven efficacy.
How to read tiers A–F
Evidence tiers belong to the drug-indication pair, not to the drug as a whole: the same substance can be A for one condition and F for another.
- AStrong evidence – first or second line in international guidelines
- BRecommended in selected cases
- CStudy data contradict each other
- DBenefit not proven, no documented harm
- FDocumented harm, or risk without benefit