When should an ASHA worker refer a child for developmental help?

You are often the first person to notice when a child is not growing the way they should — and that early eye changes lives.

In short

Refer a child for developmental help when they are clearly not doing what most children their age can do, when a milestone is late or has been lost, or when a parent is worried — you do not need to be certain of any condition. Your job is not to diagnose; it is to notice and route. When in doubt, refer for a general developmental check — early support is always safer than waiting.

Simple things to watch, by age

Use these as easy household questions during your visits:

By 6 months — Does the baby smile back, make sounds, hold the head steady?

By 12 months — Does the child babble, respond to their name, point or wave, sit without support?

By 18 months — Does the child say a few words, walk, show things to others, copy simple actions?

By 2 years — Does the child join two words, follow simple instructions, run, play near other children?

By 3 years — Does the child speak in short sentences, play pretend, be understood by family?

Refer promptly at any age if you see:

• Loss of skills the child once had (words, walking, smiling)
• No eye contact or no response when called
• Floppy or very stiff body, or not using one side
• A parent who keeps saying "something feels different"
• Fits, staring spells or sudden jerks — these need a doctor straight away, not therapy first

Trust the parent's worry. Parental concern is one of the most reliable early signals there is.

When and where to route

For delays or differences, route the family to a general developmental check at the nearest health facility or a Pinnacle Blooms Network centre. For fits, breathing trouble, or sudden loss of skills, route to a doctor urgently. You are the bridge — a timely referral from you can open years of opportunity for that child.

The Pinnacle way

AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional — never from a checklist or a home visit. Your role is to spot and refer with confidence. With 70+ centres across 4 states and a structured clinician-administered assessment, the families you refer are met with warmth and a clear plan. Many will begin with speech and developmental therapy once assessed.

Trusted sources

WHO and UNICEF Nurturing Care Framework on early childhood development; CDC developmental milestone guidance; WHO ICF model of functioning.

Next step — Spotted a child who needs a closer look? Help the family book a developmental assessment at a Pinnacle centre.

This is general information, not a diagnosis — individual assessment and diagnosis require an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.