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Signs & concerns
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Signs & concerns
Should I be worried my child might have dyscalculia?
Worry is reasonable, but worry is not a diagnosis. Dyscalculia is a persistent, specific difficulty with numbers and maths — meaningfully assessed from around age 6–8, once formal maths teaching is underway. A lasting pattern, not one bad day, is the flag. Only a clinician can confirm it.
Read the answer AnswerShould I be worried my child might have dysgraphia?
Worry is reasonable, but worry is not a diagnosis. Persistent, effortful or illegible writing once formal writing is well underway — not explained by another cause — can signal dysgraphia, and early assessment is the hopeful next step. Only a clinician can confirm it.
Read the answer AnswerShould I be worried my child might have dyslexia?
Worry is reasonable, but worry is not a diagnosis. Persistent, effortful reading and spelling from around age 6–7 — especially in a bright child — can signal dyslexia, and early assessment leads to strong reading outcomes. Only a clinician can confirm it.
Read the answer AnswerShould I be worried my child might have Emotional & Behavioural Difficulties?
Big feelings and testing limits are a normal part of childhood. The real flag is a persistent, intense pattern that shows up across home and school and gets in the way of friendships or learning. Worry is a good reason to check — only a Pinnacle clinician can tell whether support is needed.
Read the answer AnswerShould I Be Worried About Feeding & Eating Difficulties?
Fussy phases are common and often pass. A persistent pattern — a shrinking food list, distress at textures, choking, or faltering weight — is worth a gentle professional check. Worry is a reason to assess, not a diagnosis. Only a Pinnacle clinician can confirm.
Read the answer AnswerShould I be worried my child might have FASD?
FASD only occurs where there was alcohol exposure during pregnancy. If your child has developmental challenges, the cause may be entirely different — and worry is a reason to check, not a diagnosis. Only a Pinnacle clinician can tell you what's truly going on.
Read the answer AnswerShould I Be Worried My Child Might Have Fine Motor Delay?
Worry is reasonable, but worry is not a diagnosis. Several small-muscle skills lagging together, or skills that fade, are worth a clinician's eye — and early assessment is the hopeful next step. Only a qualified clinician can confirm whether it is Fine Motor Delay.
Read the answer AnswerShould I be worried my child might have a genetic or chromosomal syndrome?
Worry is reasonable, but it isn't a diagnosis. Most children who develop differently do not have a syndrome; several delays together, distinctive features from birth, or a family history are sensible reasons to check. Only a Pinnacle clinician can confirm — and early support helps regardless of cause.
Read the answer AnswerShould I be worried my child might have Gross Motor Delay?
Worry is reasonable, but worry is not a diagnosis. A pattern of delayed movement milestones — or consistently floppy, stiff or one-sided movement — is worth checking early, when therapy works best. Only a clinician can confirm whether it's a true delay.
Read the answer AnswerWorried About Your Child's Low Muscle Tone?
Hypotonia (low muscle tone) is a sign, not a diagnosis — and it has many possible causes, some mild. Worry is a good reason to have your child checked early, not a verdict. Only a Pinnacle clinician can tell what it means and build the right plan.
Read the answer AnswerShould I be worried about Motor Planning Difficulties?
Worry is reasonable, but worry is not a diagnosis. A persistent pattern of struggling to plan and sequence movements — buttons, stairs, cutlery, new physical skills — can signal motor planning difficulties, and early assessment is the hopeful next step. Only a clinician can confirm it.
Read the answer AnswerShould I worry my child may be non-verbal or minimally verbal?
Few or no spoken words is a description, not a diagnosis — many minimally verbal children understand and connect well. Worry is a fair reason to check, so a clinician can find the cause and open every route to communication. Only a Pinnacle centre can assess and confirm.
Read the answer AnswerShould I be worried my child might have Oppositional Defiant Disorder?
Defiance and big feelings are common at many ages. ODD is considered only when angry, defiant behaviour is frequent, lasts six months or more, occurs across settings and harms daily life. Worry is reasonable, but only a clinician can tell the difference — and early support helps.
Read the answer AnswerShould I be worried my child might have Persistent Toe-Walking?
Toe-walking is common and often harmless in early toddlers, with most outgrowing it by age 3. It's worth checking if it persists past 3, is constant, one-sided, or comes with tight calves or other delays. Worry is a reason to assess — not a diagnosis. Only a clinician can confirm.
Read the answer AnswerShould I be worried my child might have Prematurity-Related Developmental Risk?
Worry is reasonable, but prematurity means higher chance — not certainty — of needing extra support, and most preterm babies thrive. Always judge milestones by corrected age, and check in if patterns persist. Only a Pinnacle clinician can confirm anything.
Read the answer AnswerShould I be worried my child might have Rett Syndrome?
Worry is reasonable, but worry is not a diagnosis. Rett Syndrome (ICD-11 LD90.0) is rare and marked by a loss of skills after a normal start — most commonly loss of hand use and language between 6–18 months. A clear regression deserves prompt review; genetic testing and a clinician confirm it.
Read the answer AnswerShould I be worried my child might have a School Readiness Gap?
Worry is reasonable, but a School Readiness Gap is common, changeable and not a diagnosis. The year before school is the most responsive window — a gentle clinician check turns uncertainty into a clear, confidence-building plan. Only a Pinnacle clinician can assess and guide.
Read the answer AnswerShould I be worried my child might have Selective Mutism?
Worry is reasonable, but it is not a diagnosis. A child who speaks freely at home yet stays consistently silent at school for over a month — a striking contrast, not just shyness — may be showing Selective Mutism, an anxiety-based condition. Only a clinician can confirm it, and early support helps greatly.
Read the answer AnswerShould I be worried my child might have Self-Regulation Difficulties?
Some meltdowns and big feelings are normal — self-regulation is still being built through childhood. A persistent, intense pattern that disrupts daily life is worth checking. Worry is a reason to assess, not a diagnosis. Only a Pinnacle clinician can confirm.
Read the answer AnswerShould I Be Worried About Sensory-Based Feeding Selectivity?
A passing fussy phase is common and usually resolves. The real flag is a narrow, shrinking food list driven by texture, smell or look that affects nutrition or family life. Worry is a reason to check — not a diagnosis. Only a Pinnacle clinician can confirm it.
Read the answer AnswerShould I be worried my child might have Separation Anxiety Disorder?
Some separation distress is normal and healthy. Separation Anxiety Disorder is considered only when fear is far stronger than expected, lasts weeks, and disrupts school, sleep or play. Worry is a good reason to check — but only a clinician can confirm anything.
Read the answer AnswerShould I be worried my child might have Social Communication Difficulties?
Worry is reasonable, but worry is not a diagnosis. Persistent difficulty with the social use of language — turn-taking, reading cues, adjusting to listeners — beyond about age 4–5, can signal Social Communication Difficulties, and early assessment is the hopeful next step. Only a clinician can confirm it.
Read the answer AnswerShould I be worried my child might have Stereotyped Movement Disorder?
Many children rock or flap and outgrow it. The real flag is movement that is intense, hard to stop, interferes with daily life, or causes self-injury. Worry is a reason to check — not a diagnosis. Only a Pinnacle clinician can tell the difference.
Read the answer AnswerShould I be worried my child might have Tourette Syndrome?
Most childhood tics are temporary and harmless. Tourette Syndrome is diagnosed only when both motor and vocal tics persist beyond a year — usually from ages 5–7. Worry is a reason to observe and check, not a diagnosis. Only a clinician can confirm it.
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