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Adaptive
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Therapy & support
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Therapy & support
Sensory Processing Differences — What to Do First
After a diagnosis of Sensory Processing Differences, start by observing your child's specific sensory triggers and soothers, making small calming adjustments at home, sharing strategies with family and school, and arranging a structured occupational therapy assessment. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
Read the answer AnswerMy child was just diagnosed with Separation Anxiety Disorder — what should I do first?
After a diagnosis of Separation Anxiety Disorder, the most helpful first steps are to stay calm, keep goodbyes short, warm and predictable, never sneak away, and practise small repeated separations so your child learns that parting is safe. This worry is highly treatable with gentle, consistent support. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
Read the answer AnswerMy child was just diagnosed with Social Communication Difficulties — what should I do first?
After a diagnosis of Social Communication Difficulties, the most helpful first step is to begin focused speech and language therapy with a clinician who works on social, real-world communication, and to support these skills through everyday play and routines. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
Read the answer AnswerSpecific Learning Disability diagnosis — your first steps
After a Specific Learning Disability diagnosis, first understand which specific skills are affected, partner early with your child's school for fair accommodations and a written learning plan, and begin evidence-based remedial support while protecting your child's confidence. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
Read the answer AnswerSpeech and Language Delay — Your First Steps
After a Speech and Language Delay diagnosis, the first steps are to understand the type of delay, check hearing, begin early play-based speech and language therapy, and become an active everyday communication partner at home. Early support is highly effective. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
Read the answer AnswerStereotyped Movement Disorder: What to Do First
After a diagnosis of Stereotyped Movement Disorder, your first steps are to understand that these repetitive movements are usually self-soothing and harmless, check whether any movement risks injury, observe when they happen, and seek a clinician-led developmental profile so support is shaped around your child. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
Read the answer AnswerWhat To Do First After a Tourette Syndrome Diagnosis
After a Tourette Syndrome diagnosis, stay calm, learn that tics are involuntary, reduce pressure and attention around them, watch for accompanying anxiety or attention difficulties, and follow up with the diagnosing paediatrician, neurologist or child psychiatrist who manages this medical condition. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
Read the answer AnswerFirst steps after a visual impairment diagnosis
After a visual impairment diagnosis, confirm and understand it fully with a paediatric ophthalmologist, learn what vision can be supported or corrected, and connect early with developmental and vision-support services so your child can explore the world through all their senses. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
Read the answer AnswerYour child's feeding AbilityScore: what to do next
An AbilityScore is a baseline, not a verdict. The next step is the same in any band: have your clinician interpret it with you, rule out medical causes like swallowing safety or growth concerns first, start the agreed feeding plan, and re-measure against your child's own baseline. Only a Pinnacle clinician forms a score or diagnosis.
Read the answer AnswerAbilityScore 100–200 for Feeding & Eating Difficulties
An AbilityScore of 100–200 is your child's own baseline, not a verdict. The next step is to meet your Pinnacle clinician to rule out medical causes and turn that number into a gentle, structured feeding plan. Diagnosis is formed only at a centre, never online.
Read the answer AnswerAbilityScore 200–300 for Feeding & Eating Difficulties — Next Steps
An AbilityScore of 200–300 is a starting baseline, not a verdict. The next step is to confirm the picture with a Pinnacle clinician, begin targeted feeding therapy, and re-measure against your child's own baseline so progress becomes visible.
Read the answer AnswerAbilityScore 300–400 for Feeding & Eating Difficulties — Your Next Steps
An AbilityScore of 300–400 is a measured baseline, not a verdict. The next step is a Pinnacle clinician review to turn that number into a personalised feeding plan, rule out medical factors, and begin therapy — with progress re-measured against your child's own starting point.
Read the answer AnswerAbilityScore 400–500 with Feeding & Eating Difficulties — Next Steps
An AbilityScore of 400–500 is a baseline, not a verdict. The next step is to interpret it with your clinician alongside your child's full feeding picture, begin focused feeding therapy, and re-measure against your child's own baseline over time. Only a Pinnacle clinician forms a clinical AbilityScore® or diagnosis.
Read the answer AnswerAbilityScore 500–600 for Feeding & Eating Difficulties
An AbilityScore of 500–600 for feeding difficulties is a today-baseline, not a verdict. The next step is confirming the picture with your clinician and beginning a targeted feeding-therapy plan, with re-measurement against your child's own baseline to show it is working.
Read the answer AnswerAbilityScore 600–700 for Feeding & Eating Difficulties: What to Do Next
An AbilityScore of 600–700 for feeding difficulties is a useful starting point, not a verdict. The key next step is to confirm the picture with a Pinnacle clinician, rule out medical contributors, and begin a focused, family-centred feeding plan. Progress is then re-measured against your child's own baseline.
Read the answer AnswerAbilityScore 700–800 for Feeding & Eating Difficulties — what to do next
An AbilityScore of 700–800 for feeding difficulties is an encouraging, higher-functioning band. The next step is a lighter, focused plan to consolidate gains, plus scheduled re-measurement against your child's own baseline — interpreted only by your Pinnacle clinician.
Read the answer AnswerAbilityScore 800–900 for Feeding & Eating Difficulties
An 800–900 AbilityScore band reflects strong foundational ability with specific, targetable feeding areas to refine — not a crisis. The next step is a clinician review to turn the number into a personalised, low-pressure plan. Only a Pinnacle clinician can confirm and guide it.
Read the answer AnswerFeeding & Eating Difficulties: AbilityScore 900–1000 Next Steps
An AbilityScore of 900–1000 for feeding is excellent news — it means your child's feeding skills are thriving against their own baseline. Keep the strategies that work, widen foods gently, and book a clinician review to confirm progress and decide whether support can step down. Only a Pinnacle clinician confirms the band and the plan.
Read the answer AnswerMy child won't sleep through the night — should I be worried?
Night waking is one of the most normal parts of early childhood and is rarely, on its own, a cause for concern — settling back to sleep is a skill children build gradually. Worth a closer look only if it comes with snoring and breathing pauses, loss of skills, or daytime difficulties. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
Read the answer AnswerWhat are alternatives to medication for ADHD?
Well-evidenced alternatives to ADHD medication include parent behaviour training, behavioural therapy for the child, structured routines and environment, sleep and exercise, and support for co-occurring learning or speech needs. Guidance often recommends these first in younger children; they can also complement medication. Any diagnosis or plan is set by a Pinnacle clinician.
Read the answer AnswerWhat are alternatives to medication for Autism Spectrum?
Autism has no medication that treats its core differences — support is therapy-led: speech therapy, occupational therapy, behavioural and developmental approaches, and parent coaching, started early and tailored to the child. Medication, when used, only addresses specific co-occurring issues like anxiety or sleep, under a doctor's care.
Read the answer AnswerWhat are alternatives to medication for Childhood Anxiety?
For most childhood anxiety, therapy and everyday support come first, not medication. Cognitive behavioural therapy, graded exposure, parent coaching, relaxation skills, routines, movement and good sleep build lasting coping skills. Medication is reserved for more severe cases under a doctor's care, and a clinical AbilityScore is established only at a Pinnacle centre.
Read the answer AnswerWhat are alternatives to medication for Childhood Epilepsy?
Medication is the first-line treatment for childhood epilepsy, but neurologists may also consider ketogenic dietary therapy, epilepsy surgery, or vagus nerve stimulation when seizures are hard to control. These are clinician-led decisions, never self-directed. Pinnacle supports development — speech, learning, daily skills — alongside, never replacing, medical seizure care.
Read the answer AnswerAlternatives to medication for childhood sleep difficulties
For most children, behavioural sleep strategies — a consistent wind-down routine, a calm dark room, good daytime activity and gentle independent-settling techniques — are the first and most effective approach, not medication. Medication is rarely a first step and is considered only by a doctor for specific situations. Persistent problems, snoring or daytime impact warrant a clinical check.
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