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ASK PINNACLE · QUESTIONS, EXPLANATIONS & NEXT STEPS

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Explore explanations, everyday questions and next steps connected with support.

11,330 published answers · English · Page 125

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Answer

How do I explain Gross Motor Delay to my child?

Explain gross motor delay to your child in warm, simple words: their big muscles for sitting, crawling and running are still learning, and you are helping them grow stronger together. Use strength-focused language, normalise different paces, celebrate effort and present the physiotherapist as a fun movement coach. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.

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How do I explain Hearing Impairment to my child?

Explain hearing impairment to a child in simple, positive words matched to their age: ears are how we listen, and some ears need extra help like hearing aids, sign language or watching faces. Use familiar comparisons such as glasses for seeing, welcome questions honestly, and model respect rather than pity. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.

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How do I explain Hypotonia (Low Muscle Tone) to my child?

Explain hypotonia to your child in simple, honest, blame-free words suited to their age — that their muscles are softer and need extra practice to feel strong, and that's okay. Name strengths alongside challenges, keep it an ongoing calm conversation, and let your warmth reassure them. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.

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How do I explain Intellectual Disability to my child?

Explain Intellectual Disability to your child simply, honestly and warmly: everyone's brain learns at its own pace, some children take longer or need extra help, and that is okay. Lead with strengths, normalise help, welcome questions, and revisit the conversation as they grow. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.

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How do I explain Motor Planning Difficulties to my child?

Explain motor planning difficulties to your child in warm, simple words: their brain and body are still learning to plan the steps of new movements, so some things take more practice — and that's nobody's fault. Use a friendly picture, praise effort over outcome, and keep a calm, hopeful tone. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.

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How do I explain my child's condition to family and relatives?

Explaining your child's condition to family works best with plain, warm language that leads with your child's strengths, offers two or three practical ways relatives can help, and sets gentle boundaries on how much you share and with whom. You decide the depth for each circle. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.

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How do I explain my child's development to family and relatives?

Explain your child's development to family by leading with strengths and everyday language, framing support as growth rather than deficit, sharing only what feels right at your own pace, and giving relatives concrete ways to help. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.

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How do I explain my child's needs to their siblings?

Explain your child's needs to their siblings in simple, honest, age-matched words — lead with strengths, reassure them it is no one's fault, welcome their feelings and questions, and give them a small helpful role. Protect one-to-one time with each child too. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.

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How to Explain Non-Verbal / Minimally Verbal Presentation to Your Child

You explain Non-Verbal / Minimally Verbal Presentation to your child with warm, simple, shame-free words — naming their strengths, normalising that everyone communicates differently, and reassuring them that more tools (pictures, signs, devices) are on the way. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.

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How to explain Oppositional Defiant Disorder to your child

Explain ODD to your child in simple, blame-free language: their brain finds it hard right now to manage big angry feelings, and you'll work on it together — not as punishment. Match words to age, name feelings rather than misbehaviour, and reassure them of your love. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.

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How do I explain Persistent Toe-Walking to my child?

Explain persistent toe-walking to your child in warm, playful, body-positive language — that their feet like to tiptoe and that fun games and stretches will teach them strong flat-foot walking. Keep it short, reassuring and free of blame. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.

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How do I explain Prematurity-Related Developmental Risk to my child?

You can explain prematurity to your child gently and by age — for little ones, a warm story about arriving early and doing fun catching-up games; for older children, honest, strength-first reassurance that their brain learns at its own pace. Lead with belonging and tone, not fear. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.

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How do I explain Rett Syndrome to my child?

Explain Rett Syndrome to your child simply, honestly and at their level — name it gently, focus on what it means for everyday life, lead with their strengths, and reassure them they are loved exactly as they are. Match your words to their age, invite questions, and revisit the conversation over time. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.

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How do I explain School Readiness Gap to my child?

You don't explain a "School Readiness Gap" to a young child as a label — you talk warmly about how everyone learns at their own pace and how you're practising fun school skills together. Name the skill not the gap, make it a team effort, and celebrate small wins. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.

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How do I explain Selective Mutism to my child?

Explain Selective Mutism to your child in simple, blame-free words: their voice works fine, but a big worried feeling sometimes makes talking hard in certain places, and it is not their fault. Use a calm tone, name the feeling not the child, remove pressure, and reassure them you are a team. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.

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How do I explain Self-Regulation Difficulties to my child?

Explain self-regulation difficulties to your child with simple, blame-free, body-based language — name big feelings, normalise them, use pictures like a fast or slow engine, and make learning calming tools a shared journey. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.

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How do I explain Sensory-Based Feeding Selectivity to my child?

You explain Sensory-Based Feeding Selectivity to your child with simple, blame-free words — that their senses find some textures, tastes or smells very strong, so certain foods feel tricky right now, and you'll explore new foods together slowly and without pressure. Use feeling words not failure words, make it a playful team adventure, and celebrate tiny steps. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.

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How do I explain Sensory Processing Differences to my child?

Explain Sensory Processing Differences to your child in warm, simple, strengths-first language matched to their age: their brain notices some sensations more or less strongly, and that is just how their body works, with clever tools and caring grown-ups to help. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.

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How do I explain Separation Anxiety Disorder to my child?

Explain Separation Anxiety to your child in simple, honest words: name the worried feeling, normalise it, reassure them it is not their fault, and promise — and keep — that you always come back, paired with a small predictable goodbye routine. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.

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How do I explain Social Communication Difficulties to my child?

Explain social communication difficulties to your child in simple, strengths-first, blame-free language matched to their age — name what feels tricky, reassure them they are not broken, and frame therapy as helpful tools. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.

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How do I explain Specific Learning Disability to my child?

Explain Specific Learning Disability to your child in simple, strengths-first language: their brain learns some things differently, it is nobody's fault and has nothing to do with being clever, and there are tools and helpers to make learning easier. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.

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How do I explain Speech and Language Delay to my child?

Explain speech and language delay to your child in simple, kind, age-appropriate words: their talking is still growing at its own pace, needing help is normal, and you and their speech helper are working on it together. Lead with strengths, avoid words like 'wrong' or 'behind', and stay calm and hopeful. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.

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How do I explain Stereotyped Movement Disorder to my child?

Explain Stereotyped Movement Disorder to your child in simple, kind, blame-free words suited to their age — that their body sometimes likes to make comforting repeated movements, that it is okay and not their fault. Lead with reassurance and acceptance, and seek a check if movements cause harm or distress. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.

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How do I explain Tourette Syndrome to my child?

Explain Tourette Syndrome to your child in simple, blame-free words: their brain sometimes sends a quick signal that makes a movement or sound called a tic happen, it isn't their fault, and it doesn't change who they are. Use age-appropriate comparisons like a sneeze, reassure them tics aren't dangerous or contagious, and keep the conversation open. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.

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