# How AbilityScore tracks progress in a non-verbal or minimally verbal child

Canonical: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-does-abilityscore-track-progress-in-a-child-with-non-verbal-minimally-verbal-presentation
Publisher: Pinnacle Blooms Network / Bharath Healthcare Laboratories Private Limited

For a child with a non-verbal or minimally verbal presentation, the AbilityScore® tracks progress by setting a baseline across all forms of communication — gestures, eye contact, AAC, sounds and words — and re-measuring against that same baseline over time. It makes easy-to-miss gains visible and countable. It is a clinician-administered snapshot, never a label or a ceiling.

*When words are few, progress can feel hard to see — so we measure it carefully, in your child's own language of growth.*

## In short
For a child with a [non-verbal or minimally verbal presentation](/nonverbal-minimally-verbal), the AbilityScore® tracks progress by setting a clear **baseline** across communication and connected skills, then re-measuring against *that same baseline* over time. It deliberately captures **all** the ways your child communicates — gestures, eye contact, pointing, picture or device use, sounds and first words — not just spoken language, so gains that are easy to miss become visible and countable. It is a clinician-administered snapshot, never a label or a ceiling on what your child can reach.

## How progress is tracked when words are few
A single spoken-word count would miss most of your child's communication. The AbilityScore® widens the lens:

- **Total communication, not just speech.** It looks at intentional gestures, joint attention, requesting, pointing, use of AAC (picture cards or a speech device), vocal play and emerging words — so a child who begins reliably handing you a card to ask is showing real, measurable growth.
- **Measured against your own child.** The point of the number is a personal baseline to re-measure from, so even quiet, gradual gains — more eye contact, a longer back-and-forth, a new request — show up clearly.
- **Re-measured at intervals.** Repeating the structured assessment over time turns scattered moments into a visible trajectory, helping the clinician see what is working and adjust the plan.
- **Linked skills travel together.** Attention, play, social connection and self-regulation are tracked alongside communication, because they grow hand in hand.

The aim is never to force speech as the only goal — it is to grow your child's *capacity to communicate and connect*, in whatever form works for them, and to prove that growth with data.

## When to begin
If your child is using few or no spoken words by the ages most children are talking, or relies mainly on leading you by the hand without other communication, that is a reason to begin a developmental check now — not to wait and see. Early, consistent support builds communication skills while they are most responsive, and a baseline today means clearer progress to celebrate tomorrow.

## The Pinnacle way
Developmental measurement supports care planning; diagnosis requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional., under the care of a qualified clinician — never from an online figure or a form. Our AbilityScore® is a clinician-administered structured assessment that captures every channel of your child's communication and re-measures against their own baseline, so progress is seen even when speech is slow to arrive. Backed by 2.5 billion+ data points and 25 million+ therapy sessions across 70+ centres, our team turns each snapshot into practical [speech and communication therapy](https://www.pinnacleblooms.org/top-speech-therapy-center-india-proven-improvement-rate) you can use at the centre and at home. You can read how the measure works here: [what the AbilityScore is and how it's calculated](/ask/what-is-the-abilityscore-and-how-is-it-calculated).

## Trusted sources
WHO ICD-11 framework for neurodevelopmental and communication conditions; ASHA guidance on augmentative and alternative communication and total communication; CDC and HealthyChildren (AAP) milestones for early communication; Pinnacle Blooms Network clinical studies.

**Next step —** Set a clear baseline you can build on. [Book an AbilityScore assessment](https://www.pinnacleblooms.org/enroll-autism-speech-aba-therapies-india) with a Pinnacle clinician and get kind, practical next steps for your child.

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

## Sources
- ASHA — Augmentative and Alternative Communication: https://www.asha.org/public/speech/disorders/aac/
- CDC — Developmental Milestones: https://www.cdc.gov/child-development
- WHO ICD-11: https://icd.who.int/

## Connected topics and perspectives
- Conditions: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/conditions
- Parent: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/stakeholder/parent
- Communication: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/domain/communication
- Assessment: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/intent/assessment
- Measure: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/lifecycle/measure
- Special Education: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/route/special-education
- Early Clarity: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/empowerment/early_clarity

## Related question paths

### Understand the subject
- How Being Non-Verbal or Minimally Verbal Affects Daily Life: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-does-non-verbal-minimally-verbal-presentation-affect-a-child-s-daily-life
- Is Non-Verbal / Minimally Verbal Presentation a Disability?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/is-non-verbal-minimally-verbal-presentation-considered-a-disability
- Is Non-Verbal / Minimally Verbal Presentation genetic or hereditary?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/is-non-verbal-minimally-verbal-presentation-genetic-or-hereditary
- Common myths about non-verbal / minimally verbal presentation: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-are-common-myths-about-non-verbal-minimally-verbal-presentation
- Types and Levels of Non-Verbal / Minimally Verbal Presentation: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-are-the-types-or-levels-of-non-verbal-minimally-verbal-presentation
- What Causes a Non-Verbal or Minimally Verbal Presentation?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-causes-non-verbal-minimally-verbal-presentation-in-children
- What is Non-Verbal / Minimally Verbal Presentation?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-is-non-verbal-minimally-verbal-presentation
- What is Non-Verbal / Minimally Verbal Presentation?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-is-non-verbal-minimally-verbal-presentation-and-what-does-it-look-like-in-early-childhood
- What other conditions often occur alongside Non-Verbal / Minimally Verbal Presentation?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-other-conditions-often-occur-alongside-non-verbal-minimally-verbal-presentation
- Early intervention outcomes for minimally verbal children under 7: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-does-current-research-show-about-early-intervention-outcomes-for-non-verbal-minimally-verbal-presentation-in-children-under-7
- Non-Verbal / Minimally Verbal Presentation: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-is-non-verbal-minimally-verbal-presentation-and-what-are-its-icd-11-features-in-early-childhood
- ICD-11 Classification for Non-Verbal / Minimally Verbal Presentation: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-is-the-icd-11-classification-for-non-verbal-minimally-verbal-presentation

### Recognise signs & concerns
- Can Non-Verbal / Minimally Verbal Presentation Be Cured?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/can-non-verbal-minimally-verbal-presentation-be-cured
- Can Non-Verbal / Minimally Verbal Presentation Be Prevented?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/can-non-verbal-minimally-verbal-presentation-be-prevented
- Do boys show Non-Verbal / Minimally Verbal Presentation differently?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/do-boys-show-non-verbal-minimally-verbal-presentation-differently
- Do girls show a minimally verbal presentation differently?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/do-girls-show-non-verbal-minimally-verbal-presentation-differently
- Should I worry my child may be non-verbal or minimally verbal?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/should-i-be-worried-my-child-might-have-non-verbal-minimally-verbal-presentation
- Early Signs of a Non-Verbal or Minimally Verbal Presentation: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-are-the-early-signs-of-non-verbal-minimally-verbal-presentation
- Early signs for talking development in a 1-year-old boy: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-are-the-early-signs-of-non-verbal-minimally-verbal-presentation-in-a-1-year-old-boy
- Early Signs of Non-Verbal / Minimally Verbal Presentation in a 1-Year-Old Girl: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-are-the-early-signs-of-non-verbal-minimally-verbal-presentation-in-a-1-year-old-girl
- Early Signs of a Non-Verbal / Minimally Verbal Presentation at 12–18 Months: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-are-the-early-signs-of-non-verbal-minimally-verbal-presentation-in-a-12-to-18-month-old
- Early Signs of Non-Verbal / Minimally Verbal Presentation at 18–24 Months: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-are-the-early-signs-of-non-verbal-minimally-verbal-presentation-in-a-18-to-24-month-old
- Early Signs of a Minimally Verbal 2-Year-Old: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-are-the-early-signs-of-non-verbal-minimally-verbal-presentation-in-a-2-year-old
- Early Signs of a Non-Verbal or Minimally Verbal 2-Year-Old: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-are-the-early-signs-of-non-verbal-minimally-verbal-presentation-in-a-2-year-old-boy

### Explore causes & influences
- Are boys more likely to have a non-verbal / minimally verbal presentation?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/are-boys-more-likely-to-have-non-verbal-minimally-verbal-presentation
- Are girls more likely to have a non-verbal or minimally verbal presentation?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/are-girls-more-likely-to-have-non-verbal-minimally-verbal-presentation
- What causes non-verbal / minimally verbal presentation?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-causes-non-verbal-minimally-verbal-presentation-in-young-children
- Early Intervention for Non-Verbal Children: UNCRPD & SDGs: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-does-early-intervention-for-non-verbal-minimally-verbal-presentation-advance-un-child-rights-uncrpd-and-the-sdgs
- Contributing factors for non-verbal / minimally verbal presentation: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-are-the-known-contributing-factors-for-non-verbal-minimally-verbal-presentation-in-early-childhood
- Cost-effectiveness of early therapy for non-verbal children: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-is-the-cost-effectiveness-of-early-therapy-for-non-verbal-minimally-verbal-presentation-in-young-children
- Prevalence and public-health burden of non-verbal / minimally verbal presentation in India: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-is-the-prevalence-and-public-health-burden-of-non-verbal-minimally-verbal-presentation-among-young-children-in-india

### Understand assessment
- What an AbilityScore® Means for a Non-Verbal Child: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-does-an-abilityscore-of-0-100-mean-for-a-child-with-non-verbal-minimally-verbal-presentation
- AbilityScore 300–400 for a Non-Verbal / Minimally Verbal Child: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-does-an-abilityscore-of-300-400-mean-for-a-child-with-non-verbal-minimally-verbal-presentation
- How a Non-Verbal or Minimally Verbal Young Child Is Assessed: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-is-non-verbal-minimally-verbal-presentation-assessed-in-a-young-child
- How Is Non-Verbal / Minimally Verbal Presentation Assessed in Children Under 7?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-is-non-verbal-minimally-verbal-presentation-assessed-in-children-under-7
- What an AbilityScore of 100–200 Means for a Non-Verbal Child: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-does-an-abilityscore-of-100-200-mean-for-a-child-with-non-verbal-minimally-verbal-presentation
- What does an AbilityScore of 200–300 mean for a child with Non-Verbal / Minimally Verbal Presentation?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-does-an-abilityscore-of-200-300-mean-for-a-child-with-non-verbal-minimally-verbal-presentation
- What an AbilityScore® of 400–500 Means for a Non-Verbal Child: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-does-an-abilityscore-of-400-500-mean-for-a-child-with-non-verbal-minimally-verbal-presentation
- AbilityScore 500–600 for a Minimally Verbal Child: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-does-an-abilityscore-of-500-600-mean-for-a-child-with-non-verbal-minimally-verbal-presentation
- AbilityScore® 600–700 for a Non-Verbal / Minimally Verbal Child: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-does-an-abilityscore-of-600-700-mean-for-a-child-with-non-verbal-minimally-verbal-presentation
- What an AbilityScore of 700–800 Means for a Minimally Verbal Child: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-does-an-abilityscore-of-700-800-mean-for-a-child-with-non-verbal-minimally-verbal-presentation
- What an AbilityScore 800-900 Means for a Non-Verbal Child: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-does-an-abilityscore-of-800-900-mean-for-a-child-with-non-verbal-minimally-verbal-presentation
- What an AbilityScore® of 900–1000 Means for a Minimally Verbal Child: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-does-an-abilityscore-of-900-1000-mean-for-a-child-with-non-verbal-minimally-verbal-presentation

### Explore therapy & support
- AbilityScore 0–100 for a minimally verbal child: what to do next: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/my-child-with-non-verbal-minimally-verbal-presentation-has-an-abilityscore-of-0-100-what-should-we-do-next
- AbilityScore 600–700 with a Non-Verbal Presentation: What to Do Next: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/my-child-with-non-verbal-minimally-verbal-presentation-has-an-abilityscore-of-600-700-what-should-we-do-next
- AbilityScore 100–200 & Minimally Verbal: What to Do Next: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/my-child-with-non-verbal-minimally-verbal-presentation-has-an-abilityscore-of-100-200-what-should-we-do-next
- Non-Verbal Child with AbilityScore 700–800 — What to Do Next: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/my-child-with-non-verbal-minimally-verbal-presentation-has-an-abilityscore-of-700-800-what-should-we-do-next
- Can a child with Non-Verbal / Minimally Verbal Presentation attend a mainstream school?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/can-a-child-with-non-verbal-minimally-verbal-presentation-attend-a-mainstream-school
- Can a Non-Verbal or Minimally Verbal Child Attend a Regular School?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/can-a-child-with-non-verbal-minimally-verbal-presentation-attend-a-regular-school
- Can a child with Non-Verbal / Minimally Verbal Presentation grow up to live independently?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/can-a-child-with-non-verbal-minimally-verbal-presentation-grow-up-to-live-independently
- Supporting Communication in a Non-Verbal or Minimally Verbal Child: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-can-we-support-communication-development-in-a-child-with-non-verbal-minimally-verbal-presentation
- How Non-Verbal / Minimally Verbal Presentation Is Diagnosed: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-is-non-verbal-minimally-verbal-presentation-diagnosed-in-a-child
- How is a non-verbal or minimally verbal child supported through therapy?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-is-non-verbal-minimally-verbal-presentation-supported-through-therapy
- AbilityScore 200–300 with minimal speech: what to do next: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/my-child-with-non-verbal-minimally-verbal-presentation-has-an-abilityscore-of-200-300-what-should-we-do-next
- AbilityScore 300–400 for a Minimally Verbal Child: What to Do Next: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/my-child-with-non-verbal-minimally-verbal-presentation-has-an-abilityscore-of-300-400-what-should-we-do-next

### At home & in everyday life
- How can I support my child with Non-Verbal / Minimally Verbal Presentation at home?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-can-i-support-my-child-with-non-verbal-minimally-verbal-presentation-at-home