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Therapy & support
Is my newborn moving and walking as expected for their age?
A newborn is not expected to walk — independent walking arrives around 12–15 months. In the first three months, look instead for spontaneous symmetrical wriggling, newborn reflexes such as grasp and a fading stepping reflex, and emerging head control during tummy time. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
Read the answer AnswerIs my newborn talking as expected for their age?
Newborns aren't expected to talk — early communication is crying, cooing, eye contact and quietening to your voice, not words. Talking comes much later, often around the first birthday. What matters now is that your baby responds to sound and connects with you. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
Read the answer AnswerIs Nightmares and Night Terrors a Normal Part of Child Development?
Nightmares and night terrors are a normal, common and usually passing part of childhood for most children, needing comfort and steady sleep routines rather than treatment. Nightmares are remembered scary dreams; night terrors happen in deep sleep and aren't recalled. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
Read the answer AnswerIs Not Following Instructions a Normal Part of Child Development?
Not following instructions is largely a normal part of child development, as young children are still building the language, attention, memory and self-regulation skills needed to hear, hold and act on a request. A closer look helps when a child consistently struggles well beyond their age or shows other delays alongside it. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
Read the answer AnswerIs Not Playing With Other Children Normal?
For most young children, playing alone or side-by-side rather than with peers is a normal stage of social development — solitary and parallel play come well before cooperative play, which blossoms from around age three. It is worth a gentle developmental check only when paired with signs like little eye contact, not responding to their name, or limited communication. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
Read the answer AnswerIs Not Pointing To Show Things Normal?
Learning to point develops on its own timeline, and most children begin pointing to show or share things by around 12–16 months, often glancing back to check you've noticed. Not yet pointing isn't a cause for alarm, but if a child past 16–18 months rarely points, shows toys or shares attention, a gentle developmental check helps. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
Read the answer AnswerIs Not Responding To Name a Normal Part of Child Development?
Not responding to a name is often normal — especially in young babies, or when a child is absorbed, tired or in a noisy room. By around 12 months most children turn to their name in a quiet setting. Consistent non-response, particularly alongside limited eye contact, babbling or pointing, warrants a hearing check and developmental chat. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
Read the answer AnswerIs occupational therapy suitable for preschoolers?
Occupational therapy is very well suited to preschoolers (around ages 3–6), using play-based, child-led activities to build fine-motor, self-care, sensory-processing, attention and social skills during a highly adaptable developmental window. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
Read the answer AnswerIs occupational therapy suitable for school-age children?
Occupational therapy is very suitable for school-age children, helping with handwriting, self-care, attention, sensory processing and coordination so they can participate fully at school and home. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
Read the answer AnswerIs Occupational Therapy Suitable for Toddlers?
Occupational therapy is very well suited to toddlers — the early years are when it works best. For little ones, OT is play-based, using games and everyday routines to build fine motor skills, sensory regulation, self-care and confident play, with strong parent coaching. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
Read the answer AnswerIs occupational therapy the right therapy for a child with ADHD?
Occupational therapy is often a valuable part of supporting a child with ADHD — helping with focus, self-regulation, sensory processing, motor skills and daily routines — but it usually works best alongside paediatric care, behavioural strategies and parent coaching rather than on its own. The right mix depends on your individual child. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
Read the answer AnswerIs occupational therapy the right therapy for a child with Autism Spectrum?
Occupational therapy is often a valuable and appropriate therapy for autistic children, supporting sensory regulation, fine-motor and self-care skills, play, attention and emotional regulation — but it usually works best as part of a wider team shaped around the child's individual profile. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
Read the answer AnswerIs occupational therapy the right therapy for a child with Cerebral Palsy?
Occupational therapy is usually one of the right therapies for a child with Cerebral Palsy, helping with hand skills, daily living, seating and participation, and works best alongside physiotherapy, speech therapy and medical care. The right blend depends on each child. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
Read the answer AnswerIs occupational therapy the right therapy for a child with DCD?
Occupational therapy is a recognised first-line support for children with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD), helping them build everyday motor skills like handwriting, dressing and play through goal-driven, task-focused strategies, often alongside physiotherapy. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
Read the answer AnswerIs occupational therapy the right therapy for a child with dysgraphia?
Occupational therapy is often the right core support for a child with dysgraphia, because handwriting depends on fine-motor control, hand strength, pencil grip, motor planning, posture and visual-motor coordination — all areas an OT builds. Where the difficulty is mainly about organising and expressing ideas in writing, a speech and language therapist or special educator may work alongside. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
Read the answer AnswerIs Occupational Therapy Right for Feeding & Eating Difficulties?
Occupational therapy is often a right therapy for feeding and eating difficulties, especially when the trouble is sensory or linked to self-feeding and posture — usually working alongside a speech-language therapist, paediatrician and dietitian. The best starting point is an assessment of why your child struggles. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
Read the answer AnswerIs Occupational Therapy Right for Fine Motor Delay?
For most children with fine motor delay, occupational therapy is the most fitting support — it specifically targets hand and finger skills like grasp, drawing and self-care, finds why the skill is slow, and builds it through play. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
Read the answer AnswerIs occupational therapy the right therapy for a child with hypotonia?
Occupational therapy is often a central, effective therapy for children with hypotonia, building postural strength, fine motor and self-care skills through playful, graded activities. It usually works alongside physiotherapy and paediatric review rather than alone, since hypotonia is a sign with many causes. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
Read the answer AnswerIs occupational therapy the right therapy for motor planning difficulties?
Occupational therapy is usually the most fitting therapy for a child with motor planning difficulties, directly targeting praxis — thinking of, organising and carrying out new movements — through playful, graded activities. Depending on the cause, OT may work alongside speech therapy or physiotherapy. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
Read the answer AnswerIs occupational therapy right for Sensory Processing Differences?
For most children with Sensory Processing Differences, occupational therapy is the leading, best-fit support — therapists use playful, graded sensory activities and daily-life strategies to help a child's nervous system regulate and join everyday activities. The right therapy still depends on your child's individual profile, so a clinical assessment comes first. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
Read the answer AnswerIs occupational therapy usually one-on-one or in a group?
Children's occupational therapy is most often one-on-one, especially at the start, so activities can be tailored to your child's needs and pace. Small-group sessions are sometimes added later to practise sharing, turn-taking and social play. The right mix is a clinical decision shaped around your child. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
Read the answer AnswerIs online assessment data secure?
Yes — developmental information shared online with Pinnacle Blooms Network is encrypted in transit and at rest, access-controlled to your child's care team, and never sold. An online form is only a starting point; a clinical AbilityScore® and any diagnosis are formed in person at a centre under qualified clinician care.
Read the answer AnswerIs online assessment of my child reliable?
An online assessment can be a helpful first signpost to flag whether a closer look is worthwhile, but it is not a reliable diagnosis. The most accurate picture comes from a structured, clinician-administered, in-person assessment. At Pinnacle, a clinical AbilityScore and any diagnosis are formed only at a centre under qualified clinician care.
Read the answer AnswerIs online therapy a good option for rural families?
For most rural families, online therapy is a strong option — when delivered by qualified therapists who coach parents at home, it works well for speech, language and early-learning support. A short in-person visit is wise for the first assessment and complex profiles, but distance need not delay starting.
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