Gross Motor Delay
SNOMED CT Concept for Gross Motor Delay
Gross motor delay is recorded in SNOMED CT within the Clinical finding hierarchy under Delayed motor development (concept ID 22951005). Confirm the exact identifier against your live national edition, document aetiology and functional impact separately, and map to ICD-11/ICF for the functional picture.
When a child presents with delayed sitting, crawling or walking, the coding question follows fast: how do we record gross motor delay in SNOMED CT?
In short
Gross Motor Delay is represented in SNOMED CT under the broader concept of delayed motor development. The most directly applicable clinical finding is Delayed gross motor development (SNOMED CT concept ID 22951005, Delayed motor development, with finer-grained children where the terminology edition supports them). Always validate the exact concept ID against your live SNOMED CT browser and national edition, as identifiers and hierarchy placement can vary by release and extension.Coding the concept
In the SNOMED CT International Edition, gross motor delay sits within the Clinical finding hierarchy as a developmental finding:- Parent concept: Delayed motor development — the general descriptor for motor milestones acquired later than expected for chronological age.
- For specificity, pair the finding with an age or milestone qualifier and the relevant motor domain (gross versus fine) where your edition's reference set allows.
- For cross-mapping to billing or surveillance systems, SNOMED CT maps to ICD-11 functioning-related categories; the WHO ICF (b/d codes for mobility) better captures the functional picture than a single diagnostic code.
A SNOMED CT finding records what was observed, not severity or cause. Document the underlying aetiology (e.g. hypotonia, prematurity, neuromuscular condition) and functional impact separately, so the record supports both coding fidelity and intervention planning.
When to refer
Isolated gross motor delay with normal tone, reflexes and progression often warrants monitoring and parent guidance. Refer promptly where there is loss of acquired skills, asymmetry, persistent hypotonia or hypertonia, or delay across multiple domains — these warrant paediatric neurology or developmental review rather than therapy-first management.The Pinnacle way
A clinical AbilityScore® and any diagnosis are formed only at a Pinnacle Blooms Network centre under qualified clinician care — never from a code lookup or an online form. Coding captures the finding; a structured, clinician-administered assessment captures the child. Pinnacle's physiotherapy and motor-development pathway translates a recorded delay into a measurable plan, and you can [partner with our clinical team](/) for collaborative care.Trusted sources
WHO ICD-11 for cross-mapping of developmental findings; WHO International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) for the mobility functioning picture. Always confirm the live concept ID in your national SNOMED CT edition.Next step — Validate the concept in your SNOMED CT browser, then [partner with a Pinnacle clinician](/) to convert the finding into a measurable motor-development plan.
This is general information, not a diagnosis — a clinical AbilityScore® and any diagnosis are formed only at a Pinnacle Blooms Network centre under qualified clinician care.
What to watch
Loss of previously acquired motor skills, asymmetry of movement, persistent hypotonia or hypertonia, or delay spanning multiple developmental domains — these shift management from monitoring to prompt paediatric neurology or developmental review.
Try this at home
When coding, pair the SNOMED CT finding with a functional ICF mobility note — the record should capture not just that a milestone is late, but what the child can and cannot do in daily movement.
Trusted sources
Developed by SETU Consortium · Pinnacle Blooms Network · Last reviewed 2026-06-10
This is general information, not a diagnosis. A clinical AbilityScore® and any diagnosis are formed only at a Pinnacle Blooms Network centre, under qualified clinician care.
Frequently asked
What is the SNOMED CT concept for gross motor delay?
Gross motor delay is represented within the SNOMED CT Clinical finding hierarchy under Delayed motor development (concept ID 22951005). Validate the precise identifier and any finer-grained gross-motor child concepts against your live national SNOMED CT edition, as placement varies by release.
How does the SNOMED CT finding differ from an ICD-11 or ICF code?
The SNOMED CT finding records the clinical observation. ICD-11 supports cross-mapping for diagnostic and surveillance systems, while the WHO ICF (mobility b/d codes) captures the functional impact. Use them together for a complete record.
Should I code aetiology separately?
Yes. A motor-delay finding describes what was observed, not the cause or severity. Document underlying aetiology — such as prematurity, hypotonia or a neuromuscular condition — and functional impact as separate entries to support both coding fidelity and intervention planning.