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Signs & concerns
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Signs & concerns
When to Worry About Dyscalculia in an 18–24-Month-Old
Dyscalculia cannot be identified at 18–24 months — it is a specific learning difficulty with mathematics (ICD-11 6A03.2) recognised only once a child engages with formal number learning, around 6–8 years. At this age, simply nurture language, play and curiosity. If anything about your toddler's overall development concerns you, a general developmental check — never an online form — is the right step.
Read the answer AnswerWhen should I worry about dysgraphia at 18–24 months?
Dysgraphia cannot be identified at 18–24 months — written expression depends on handwriting skills children only build from around age 5–7. A toddler isn't expected to write, so there are no genuine dysgraphia signs now. Instead, nurture fine-motor play, scribbling and communication, and raise any general developmental concerns early. Formal dysgraphia assessment becomes meaningful only from about age 6.
Read the answer AnswerWhen should I worry about dyslexia in my 18–24-month-old?
Dyslexia is a reading difference, and reading develops years from now — so it cannot be identified in an 18-to-24-month-old, and there's nothing to worry about on that front yet. At this age there is no test for dyslexia. Simply nurture early language, listening and rhyme, as these are the foundations reading is built on. A reading assessment becomes meaningful only around ages 6–8.
Read the answer AnswerWhen to Worry About School Readiness Gap at 18–24 Months
At 18–24 months, a "School Readiness Gap" isn't yet a meaningful concern — readiness is assessed closer to ages 3–5. What matters now are the building blocks: communication, play, attention and connection. If any feel delayed, the right step is a friendly general developmental check, not a readiness test.
Read the answer AnswerWhen to worry about SLD in an 18–24-month-old
At 18–24 months it isn't clinically meaningful to look for Specific Learning Disability — it concerns reading, writing and maths skills your toddler hasn't begun yet, and is usually recognised only around ages 6–8. For now, watch broader development — talking, understanding, play and movement — and route any concern to a general developmental check.
Read the answer AnswerWhen should I worry that my 2-year-old might have ADHD?
At two, ADHD cannot be reliably diagnosed — high energy and short attention are normal toddler behaviour. ADHD becomes identifiable around age 4–5, when a persistent pattern shows across settings. If your child's overall development worries you, a general developmental check, not an ADHD label, is the right next step.
Read the answer AnswerWhen should I worry about dyscalculia in my 2-year-old?
Dyscalculia cannot and need not be identified at age two; it is a specific maths learning difficulty meaningful only once formal number teaching begins, usually from age 6–8. At two, support broad development and playful number sense, and seek a general developmental check only if language, play, movement or social skills seem delayed.
Read the answer AnswerWhen should I worry about dysgraphia in my 2-year-old?
Dysgraphia cannot be identified in a 2-year-old — writing is a skill that develops only after years of language and fine-motor growth, so it's usually recognised from around ages 6–8 when formal writing begins. At two, there is nothing to diagnose; scribbling, fist grips and no shape-drawing are all expected. Support hand strength, language and play, and if you have any broader developmental worry, choose a general developmental check rather than a writing-specific one.
Read the answer AnswerWhen to worry about dyslexia in a 2-year-old
Dyslexia is a reading impairment, and reading comes years after age two, so a 2-year-old cannot be diagnosed with it — there is nothing to worry about on that front yet. At this age, watch general speech and language, not reading: talking in single words and two-word phrases, understanding instructions, enjoying rhymes and shared books. A formal dyslexia assessment becomes meaningful only once a child is learning to read, usually around ages 6–8. Support early language now, as it is the best foundation for reading later.
Read the answer AnswerWhen should I worry my 2-year-old might have Intellectual Disability?
At two it is too early to confirm Intellectual Disability — the brain is still developing rapidly. Watch development as a whole, and check any concern early. A pattern of delay across communication, play and daily skills, or loss of a skill, is a reason for a developmental check — not a diagnosis you can make at home.
Read the answer AnswerWhen should I worry that my 2-year-old might have School Readiness Gap?
School readiness is not a meaningful concept to assess or worry about at age two — it becomes relevant nearer ages 4–6. What matters now is your toddler's broad development: language, social connection and play. Clear delays or loss of these skills, not a school comparison, are the real reason for a general developmental check.
Read the answer AnswerWhen should I worry that my 2-year-old might have Specific Learning Disability?
At two, Specific Learning Disability cannot be diagnosed — it only becomes meaningful around ages 6–8 when formal learning begins. At this age, simply nurture and observe your child's language, play and listening. If those building blocks concern you, a general developmental check brings clarity. Only a clinician confirms anything.
Read the answer AnswerWhen should I worry that my 3-to-6-month-old might have ADHD?
ADHD cannot be identified in a 3-to-6-month-old, and clinicians do not diagnose it this early — infant fidgetiness and short attention are normal. At this age, track ordinary milestones like smiling, babbling and head control instead, and route any general concern to a developmental check.
Read the answer AnswerWhen to worry about dyscalculia at 3–6 months
Dyscalculia is a maths learning difficulty that cannot be identified in a 3-to-6-month-old — number skills emerge only in the preschool and early-school years, with a meaningful question of dyscalculia usually arising around ages 7–8. At this age, simply enjoy and watch your baby's general development: smiling, tracking faces, turning to sound and steadier movement. Keep routine checks on track, and only a Pinnacle clinician can ever form an AbilityScore® or diagnosis.
Read the answer AnswerWhen to worry about dysgraphia in a 3-to-6-month-old
Dysgraphia (Written Expression Impairment, ICD-11 6A03.1) cannot be identified in a 3-to-6-month-old, because writing is a skill that only emerges years later, typically recognised from ages 6 to 8. At this age, simply nurture and observe the early building blocks — hand-eye coordination, grasping, head control and social smiling. Any genuine concern now belongs to general development, not dysgraphia, and a clinical AbilityScore® or diagnosis is formed only at a Pinnacle centre.
Read the answer AnswerWhen to worry about dyslexia in a 3–6 month-old
Dyslexia is a reading impairment that can only be identified once a child is learning to read, typically from age 6 to 8 — so there is nothing to worry about at 3 to 6 months and no infant signs of dyslexia exist. At this age, watch instead for responses to sound, cooing and babbling, eye contact and social smiles. If your baby does not react to sounds or your voice, seek a prompt hearing and communication check. Only a Pinnacle clinician can assess, never an online form.
Read the answer AnswerWhen to worry about Intellectual Disability at 3–6 months
At 3–6 months, Intellectual Disability cannot and should not be diagnosed — the abilities it describes haven't emerged yet. Instead, watch warm early milestones like social smiles, tracking faces and head control, and raise any concern at your routine paediatric visit. Only a Pinnacle clinician forms any assessment.
Read the answer AnswerWhen to Worry About School Readiness at 3-6 Months
School readiness cannot be assessed in a 3-to-6-month-old — it becomes meaningful only from around age 3, near preschool. At this age, what matters are early foundations: smiling, cooing, tracking faces, head control and reaching. There are no school-readiness signs to fear now; if early milestones feel missing, a general developmental check brings reassurance.
Read the answer AnswerWhen to worry about SLD in a 3-to-6-month-old
Specific Learning Disability cannot be identified in a 3-to-6-month-old — it concerns reading, writing and maths, which only emerge with schooling around age 6–8. At this age, simply track ordinary milestones like smiling, following faces and babbling, and raise any general concern at routine check-ups.
Read the answer AnswerADHD concern in a 3-year-old
At three, being busy, impulsive and easily distracted is usually normal — ADHD is rarely diagnosed reliably this young. Worry is a reason to observe and seek a general developmental check, not to label. Only a clinician can tell the difference.
Read the answer AnswerWhen should I worry that my 3-year-old might have dyscalculia?
Dyscalculia cannot be diagnosed in a three-year-old. Real number learning — and the difficulties that define dyscalculia — only become clear after formal schooling begins, usually from age 6–8. At three, focus on playful number sense like counting rhymes and 'more or less', and watch overall development rather than maths specifically.
Read the answer AnswerWhen should I worry that my 3-year-old might have dysgraphia?
Dysgraphia cannot be identified at age three, because true writing skills are not yet expected — a three-year-old should be scribbling and playing, not forming letters. There is nothing to worry about regarding dysgraphia now. What helps is gently nurturing fine-motor and pre-writing building blocks through play. Formal assessment for written-expression difficulty becomes meaningful only after around age 6–8. For any general concern, a developmental check is the right route.
Read the answer AnswerWhen to worry about dyslexia in a 3-year-old
At three, your child isn't expected to read, so dyslexia can't yet be identified — assessment becomes meaningful only once formal reading begins, usually age 6–8. For now, watch the foundations: talking, vocabulary, enjoying rhymes and being read to. If spoken language seems behind, a general developmental and speech-language check (not a dyslexia test) is the right, calm next step.
Read the answer AnswerWhen should I worry my 3-year-old has Intellectual Disability?
At three it is too early to label Intellectual Disability, but the right age to notice and check. A broad, persistent pattern of delay across language, thinking, play and self-help — not one slow skill — is the real reason to seek a developmental check. Only a clinician can confirm anything.
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