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Cognitive
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Signs & concerns
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Signs & concerns
When should I worry about a School Readiness Gap at 3?
At three, school readiness is still blooming and there's no single moment to worry. A school readiness gap becomes worth a friendly check — not a wait — when several skills across communication, social play, self-help and attention stay clearly behind same-age peers over weeks. A single lagging area is usually normal; only a clinician can assess what support, if any, is needed.
Read the answer AnswerWhen should I worry about SLD in my 3-year-old?
At three, it is too early to diagnose Specific Learning Disability — those reading, writing and maths skills haven't begun yet, and SLD is usually identified around ages 6–8. For now, watch the language and play foundations, and screen any concern early. Only a clinician can assess.
Read the answer AnswerWhen should I worry my 4-year-old has ADHD?
At four, high energy and distractibility are usually typical. ADHD becomes a meaningful question only when behaviours are far more intense than peers, span home and preschool, last 6+ months and disrupt daily life. Worry is a reason to check, not a diagnosis — only a clinician can confirm it.
Read the answer AnswerWhen should I worry about dyscalculia in my 4-year-old?
At 4, it is far too early to diagnose dyscalculia — maths impairment is only recognised after formal schooling, usually around age 7–8. At this age, watch the playful foundations of number sense (counting objects, comparing more/less, sorting and patterns) rather than worry about a maths label. If number concepts are slow, it usually reflects general language or attention development, so a broad developmental check is the right step — not a maths-specific diagnosis.
Read the answer AnswerWhen should I worry that my 4-year-old might have dysgraphia?
Dysgraphia cannot be meaningfully identified at four, because formal writing isn't yet expected. It becomes assessable around ages 6 to 8, after a child has had real teaching in writing. At four, nurture and watch the foundations — hand strength, pre-writing shapes and fine-motor play — and seek a general developmental check if these are broadly delayed.
Read the answer AnswerWhen should I worry that my 4-year-old might have Dyslexia?
At four it is too early to diagnose dyslexia — reading impairment is only identifiable after structured reading instruction begins, around ages 6 to 8. Don't worry yet, but do watch foundation skills: rhyme and sound awareness, letter-sound links, word retrieval, and family history. Enrich early literacy through play and seek a developmental check if a cluster of signs persists into school years.
Read the answer AnswerWhen should I worry that my 4-year-old might have Intellectual Disability?
Worry is reasonable, but it is not a diagnosis. Intellectual Disability involves persistent delays in both thinking and everyday skills together — not one isolated area. A lasting, across-the-board pattern at four warrants a developmental check. Only a Pinnacle clinician can confirm it.
Read the answer AnswerWhen should I worry about a school readiness gap at 4?
At 4, a school readiness gap means a child needs more support to build the play, language, attention and self-care skills for the classroom — not a diagnosis. Most 4-year-olds are still becoming ready. Seek a friendly check when several everyday skills lag behind peers and aren't closing over months. With a year before school, this is the ideal time to find and close a gap.
Read the answer AnswerWhen should I worry that my 4-year-old might have Specific Learning Disability?
At four, Specific Learning Disability cannot yet be diagnosed — it needs formal schooling to emerge, usually after age 6–8. The wise step now is to watch pre-literacy foundations (sounds, letters, language) and strengthen them through play. Only a Pinnacle clinician can assess; an online form never can.
Read the answer AnswerWhen should I worry my 5-year-old has ADHD?
At five, being wriggly and distractible is often normal. The real flag is a strong pattern of inattention, hyperactivity or impulsivity lasting 6+ months across home and preschool that disrupts learning and friendships. Worry is a reason to check — only a clinician can confirm ADHD.
Read the answer AnswerWhen should I worry that my 5-year-old might have dyscalculia?
At five, it is too early to diagnose dyscalculia — early number sense is still forming and mix-ups are typical. A meaningful maths-learning diagnosis usually only applies around age 7–8, once structured teaching is well under way. For now, watch and gently support; check in with a clinician only if difficulties are marked, persistent and clearly out of step with your child's other strengths.
Read the answer AnswerWhen should I worry that my 5-year-old might have dysgraphia?
At five, formal handwriting is only just beginning, so it is too early to diagnose dysgraphia — which is reliably identified around ages 7–8 after structured writing instruction. Watch the building blocks instead: pencil grip, hand strength, fine-motor play and letter interest. Seek a developmental check if your child avoids all drawing, cannot copy simple shapes, has very weak hand control versus peers, or loses a skill — for early support, not a label.
Read the answer AnswerWhen should I worry about dyslexia in my 5-year-old?
At five, a formal dyslexia diagnosis is usually too early — children are only beginning to learn letters and sounds. This is the age to watch the building blocks of reading: rhyme, sound play, letter recognition and family history. If several lag, or there is dyslexia in the family, a structured screen is wise — not a label, but a path to early, playful support that works best when started young.
Read the answer AnswerWhen should I worry my 5-year-old has Intellectual Disability?
Worry at five is reasonable, but worry is not a diagnosis. A broad, persistent lag across thinking, language, learning and everyday self-care — not one slow area — is the real reason to check. Only a Pinnacle clinician can confirm it, and early support helps most.
Read the answer AnswerWhen should I worry that my 5-year-old might have a school readiness gap?
A school readiness gap is not a diagnosis but a sign a child needs more support with the building blocks of learning before structured school. At five, seek a gentle check if your child consistently struggles to follow simple instructions, separate from you, attend to a short activity, or shows little interest in early learning — especially if the pattern persists across home and pre-school. Earlier support is always easier.
Read the answer AnswerWhen should I worry about dyscalculia in my 6-to-9-month-old?
Dyscalculia cannot be identified in a 6-to-9-month-old, because it is a difficulty with formal number learning that only becomes meaningful around age 7–8. At this age there is nothing to test and nothing to worry about regarding maths. The right focus now is rich play and the broad first-year developmental milestones — and any concern about those, not numbers, is the reason for a general developmental check.
Read the answer AnswerDysgraphia at 6–9 months: when to worry
Dysgraphia is a written-expression difficulty that can only be recognised once a child is learning to write — usually around age 6–8. At 6 to 9 months there is nothing to worry about regarding dysgraphia. What matters now is enjoying and observing early fine-motor and communication milestones like reaching, grasping and babbling. Any broad developmental concern deserves a gentle clinician's check; only a Pinnacle clinician can assess, never an online form.
Read the answer AnswerWhen to worry about dyslexia in a 6–9-month-old
Dyslexia is a reading difficulty that only becomes meaningful once a child is learning to read — usually around age 6 to 8. At 6 to 9 months a baby isn't reading, so dyslexia cannot be identified or ruled out, and there is nothing to worry about now. What helps is observing early communication, hearing and play, and reading aloud daily. Any concern about hearing or babbling deserves a prompt check, separate from dyslexia. Only a Pinnacle clinician can assess, never an online form.
Read the answer AnswerWhen should I worry about Intellectual Disability in my 6-to-9-month-old?
At 6–9 months Intellectual Disability cannot be diagnosed and that worry isn't clinically meaningful yet. Watch the whole sweep of development — smiling, babbling, responding, sitting, reaching. Several delays together by 9 months are a reason for a friendly developmental check, never a diagnosis.
Read the answer AnswerWhen to worry about School Readiness Gap at 6–9 months
At 6 to 9 months there is no "School Readiness Gap" to worry about — school readiness only becomes meaningful around ages 4 to 6. What matters now are early foundations: looking, listening, babbling, social warmth and movement. Raise any small concern at the routine 9-month check, and seek a prompt review only if a baby loses skills or shows no babble, eye contact or response to their name.
Read the answer AnswerWhen should I worry about Specific Learning Disability at 6–9 months?
A Specific Learning Disability cannot be identified at 6–9 months — it is recognised only once formal schooling begins, around age 6–8. At this age, watch general development: smiling, babbling, looking, reaching and connecting. Worry is a good reason for a general developmental check, not a learning-disability label.
Read the answer AnswerWhen should I worry that my 6-year-old might have ADHD?
Many six-year-olds are restless and forgetful — that alone isn't ADHD. Worry is warranted when inattention, hyperactivity or impulsivity is stronger than peers, lasts six months or more, and shows up both at home and school, affecting daily life. Only a clinician can confirm it.
Read the answer AnswerWhen should I worry my 6-year-old has dyscalculia?
At six, wobbly counting, finger-counting and reversed digits are usually normal — a dyscalculia label is rarely meaningful this young because maths skills are still settling. Watch for a persistent, surprising gap where numbers are uniquely hard despite good teaching and effort. That is a reason to monitor and seek a developmental check, never a diagnosis; formal identification usually comes around ages 7–8.
Read the answer AnswerWhen should I worry my 6-year-old has dysgraphia?
At six, effortful or messy writing is largely normal as handwriting is still being mastered. Dysgraphia (ICD-11 6A03.1) becomes a concern when the difficulty is persistent, clearly behind peers, and there's a striking gap between rich spoken ideas and what reaches the page — especially if writing exhausts or upsets him. Watch the pattern over months across home and school, and seek a clinician's check; only a Pinnacle clinician can assess, never an online form.
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