# How is Non-Verbal scored on the AbilityScore?

Canonical: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-is-non-verbal-scored-on-the-abilityscore
Publisher: Pinnacle Blooms Network / Bharath Healthcare Laboratories Private Limited

The Non-Verbal domain of the AbilityScore® is a clinician-administered structured assessment of how a toddler communicates without spoken words — eye contact, pointing, gestures, sounds, joint attention and understanding. It's built through play observation and your daily observations against your child's own baseline, and only a Pinnacle clinician can confirm what it means.

*When your toddler isn't using words yet, the most caring first step is to understand how they communicate now — through eyes, hands, gestures and play.*

## In short
On the AbilityScore®, the Non-Verbal domain isn't a single number from one test — it's a **clinician-administered structured assessment** of how your child communicates *without* spoken words: eye contact, pointing, gestures, sounds, shared attention and understanding of what is said to them. A Pinnacle clinician observes your toddler in play, gathers your everyday observations, and builds a picture against *their own* baseline — never a label rushed onto them.

## What the clinician actually looks at
For a toddler (12–36 months), being non-verbal is read through *connection and intent*, so the clinician gently explores:

- **Pre-verbal communication** — does your child point, wave, reach, or show you things to share interest?
- **Receptive understanding** — can they follow simple requests or respond to their name?
- **Sounds and babble** — the range of vocal play and how it's used to connect.
- **Joint attention** — looking between you and an object, the foundation of language.
- **Play and imitation** — copying actions, pretend play, turn-taking.

These strands are observed across more than one calm interaction, because communication is best understood in context, not a single rushed sitting. The result guides a warm, practical plan — not a verdict.

## When to seek a look
If your toddler isn't pointing or gesturing by around 15–18 months, rarely makes eye contact, or isn't babbling or responding to their name, a gentle professional look now is wise. Early support protects confidence and opens the door to language.

## 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 checklist. Backed by 2.5 billion+ data points and 25 million+ therapy sessions across 70+ centres, our clinicians pair this with [speech therapy](https://www.pinnacleblooms.org/top-speech-therapy-center-india-proven-improvement-rate) and family coaching. Learn more about a [non-verbal toddler](/non-verbal-toddler) and [what the AbilityScore is and how it's calculated](/ask/what-is-the-abilityscore-and-how-is-it-calculated).

## Trusted sources
WHO ICF framework for communication functions (domain d3); CDC and HealthyChildren (AAP) milestones on early gestures and language; ASHA guidance on pre-verbal and emerging communication.

**Next step —** Begin with understanding, not worry. [Book an AbilityScore assessment](https://www.pinnacleblooms.org/enroll-autism-speech-aba-therapies-india) with a Pinnacle clinician for a calm, caring read of your toddler's communication.

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

## Sources
- CDC: Early communication milestones: https://www.cdc.gov/child-development
- ASHA: Communication development: https://www.asha.org/public/speech/development/communicationdevelopment/
- WHO ICF communication functions (d3): https://icd.who.int/

## Connected topics and perspectives
- Abilities: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/abilities
- Parent: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/stakeholder/parent
- Toddler: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/age/toddler
- Communication: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/domain/communication
- Assessment: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/intent/assessment
- Measure: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/lifecycle/measure
- Speech Therapy: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/route/speech-therapy
- Early Clarity: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/empowerment/early_clarity
- Non-Verbal: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/ability/non-verbal-toddler
- d3 · Communication (ICF d3): https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/icf/d3
- English: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/language/en
- SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/sdg/3
- SDG 4: Quality Education: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/sdg/4
- Doctor / Pediatrician: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/stakeholder/doctor
- Teacher / Educator: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/stakeholder/teacher
- Therapist / Clinician: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/stakeholder/therapist

## Related question paths

### Understand the subject
- What is Non-Verbal in child development?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-is-non-verbal-in-child-development
- What Non-Verbal Communication Represents and When Delay Is Significant: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-does-non-verbal-represent-developmentally-and-when-is-a-delay-in-it-clinically-significant
- Which ICF functioning domain does Non-Verbal map to in early childhood?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/which-icf-functioning-domain-does-non-verbal-map-to-in-early-childhood

### Recognise signs & concerns
- What does a delay in Non-Verbal mean for my child?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-does-a-delay-in-non-verbal-mean-for-my-child

### Understand assessment
- How is a Non-Verbal Toddler Assessed?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-is-non-verbal-assessed
- How is Verbal scored on the AbilityScore?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-is-verbal-scored-on-the-abilityscore
- How is Communication scored on the AbilityScore?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-is-communication-scored-on-the-abilityscore
- How Non-Verbal Is Defined and Measured in Early Childhood Research: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-is-non-verbal-defined-and-measured-as-a-developmental-construct-in-early-childhood-research
- How AbilityScore tracks progress in a non-verbal or minimally verbal child: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-does-abilityscore-track-progress-in-a-child-with-non-verbal-minimally-verbal-presentation
- How is Verbal assessed?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-is-verbal-assessed
- What does the amber zone for non-verbal skills mean?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/my-child-is-in-the-amber-zone-for-non-verbal-what-does-that-mean
- My child is in the green zone for Non-Verbal — what does that mean?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/my-child-is-in-the-green-zone-for-non-verbal-what-does-that-mean
- Red zone for non-verbal — what it means: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/my-child-is-in-the-red-zone-for-non-verbal-what-does-that-mean
- What does an AbilityScore of 0–100 in Non-Verbal mean for my child?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-does-an-abilityscore-of-0-100-in-non-verbal-mean-for-my-child
- What does an AbilityScore of 100–200 in Non-Verbal mean for my child?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-does-an-abilityscore-of-100-200-in-non-verbal-mean-for-my-child
- What does an AbilityScore of 200–300 in Non-Verbal mean for my child?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-does-an-abilityscore-of-200-300-in-non-verbal-mean-for-my-child

### Explore therapy & support
- Amber Zone for Non-Verbal — What To Do Next: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/my-child-is-in-the-amber-zone-for-non-verbal-what-should-we-do-next
- Green Zone for Non-Verbal — What Should We Do Next?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/my-child-is-in-the-green-zone-for-non-verbal-what-should-we-do-next
- Red Zone for Non-Verbal — What To Do Next: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/my-child-is-in-the-red-zone-for-non-verbal-what-should-we-do-next
- Non-Verbal AbilityScore 0–100: Your Next Steps: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/my-child-s-non-verbal-abilityscore-is-0-100-what-are-the-next-steps
- My child's Non-Verbal AbilityScore is 100–200 — what are the next steps?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/my-child-s-non-verbal-abilityscore-is-100-200-what-are-the-next-steps
- Non-Verbal AbilityScore 200–300 — Next Steps: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/my-child-s-non-verbal-abilityscore-is-200-300-what-are-the-next-steps
- Non-Verbal AbilityScore 300–400 — next steps: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/my-child-s-non-verbal-abilityscore-is-300-400-what-are-the-next-steps
- Non-Verbal AbilityScore 400–500 — Next Steps for Your Child: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/my-child-s-non-verbal-abilityscore-is-400-500-what-are-the-next-steps
- Non-Verbal AbilityScore 500–600 — Next Steps: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/my-child-s-non-verbal-abilityscore-is-500-600-what-are-the-next-steps
- Non-Verbal AbilityScore 600–700 — Next Steps: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/my-child-s-non-verbal-abilityscore-is-600-700-what-are-the-next-steps
- Non-Verbal AbilityScore 700–800 — Next Steps: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/my-child-s-non-verbal-abilityscore-is-700-800-what-are-the-next-steps
- Non-Verbal AbilityScore 800–900 — Next Steps: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/my-child-s-non-verbal-abilityscore-is-800-900-what-are-the-next-steps

### At home & in everyday life
- How can I support my child's communication if they are non-verbal?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-can-i-support-my-child-s-non-verbal
- How can therapy improve my child's communication if they are non-verbal?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-can-therapy-improve-my-child-s-non-verbal
- What simple daily activities help build a child's non-verbal communication?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-simple-daily-activities-help-build-a-child-s-non-verbal