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Signs & concerns
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Signs & concerns
What are the signs of motor delay in a newborn?
In the newborn weeks, movement is reflex-led and jerky — that is normal, not delay. Clinicians watch for very floppy or very stiff muscle tone, a baby who barely moves, strong one-sidedness, weak reflexes, or feeding and breathing difficulty. These are reasons for a calm check, never a diagnosis, and early support works beautifully.
Read the answer AnswerSigns of Sensory Delay in a 12-to-18-Month-Old
At 12–18 months, most differences in how a toddler responds to sound, touch, movement or texture are simply temperament. Seek a calm developmental check if your child consistently over-reacts or under-reacts to everyday sensations, if it gets in the way of play, feeding or sleep, or if it travels with delays in babbling, words, pointing or responding to their name. Hearing and vision should also be checked. This is a reason to assess early, not a diagnosis.
Read the answer AnswerSigns of Sensory Delay in an 18-to-24-Month-Old
At 18–24 months, strong sensory likes and dislikes are usually normal as your toddler learns to make sense of sound, touch and movement. Seek a developmental check when reactions are so strong or so absent that they disrupt eating, sleeping, dressing, playing or being with people, or when they come with delays in talking, walking or connecting. These are reasons to assess early — not a diagnosis — because early support works best.
Read the answer AnswerSigns of Sensory Delay in a 2-Year-Old
At two, strong sensory preferences and big reactions to sounds, textures, lights or movement are common and usually typical. Seek a developmental check when responses are so intense or persistent that they disrupt eating, dressing, sleep, play or being with people most days, or when they come with delays in talking, social connection or movement. Arrange a hearing and vision check too. These are reasons to look early — not a diagnosis — because early support works beautifully at this age.
Read the answer AnswerSigns of sensory delay in a 3-to-6-month-old
There is no formal sensory delay diagnosis at 3–6 months, and most differences in how babies respond to sights, sounds and touch are typical at this age. Reassuring signs include turning towards voices, following faces and objects with the eyes, and reaching for things. A gentle developmental check is wise if your baby never startles to loud sounds, does not follow faces or objects, or strongly resists most touch — this is a reason to observe early, not a diagnosis.
Read the answer AnswerSigns of sensory delay in a 3-year-old
Big reactions to sounds, textures, touch or movement are common and often typical at three, as children are still learning to manage sensory information. Seek a developmental check if your child consistently avoids or craves certain sensations, is very distressed by everyday sounds or textures, or if sensory differences get in the way of eating, dressing, playing or being with others — especially alongside delays in talking or play. These are reasons to assess early, not a diagnosis, because early sensory support works best.
Read the answer AnswerSigns of Sensory Differences in a 4-Year-Old
By four, most children manage everyday sensations with growing ease. Signs worth a supportive review include strong distress over sounds, textures, lights or grooming; constant seeking of spinning or crashing; clumsiness or avoiding active play; and a very texture-limited diet. These are reasons to assess early — not a diagnosis — because early occupational-therapy support works well at this age.
Read the answer AnswerSigns of Sensory Processing Differences in a 5-Year-Old
By five, most children manage everyday sights, sounds, textures and movement well enough to join in play, dressing, meals and class. Look for a developmental check when your child is consistently overwhelmed or under-responsive — covering ears at ordinary sounds, refusing many food textures, distress over clothing tags, or constantly seeking crashing and spinning — in ways that disrupt daily life. This isn't a diagnosis; it means a clinician's gentle observation is wise now, because support at this age works well.
Read the answer AnswerWhat are the signs of sensory delay in a 6-to-9-month-old?
Between 6 and 9 months, babies explore through looking, listening, touching, reaching and mouthing. Seek a gentle developmental check if your baby doesn't turn to sounds, doesn't follow objects or faces with their eyes, doesn't reach for or mouth toys, is very distressed by ordinary touch, or feels unusually floppy or stiff. A hearing and vision review is often a sensible first step. None of this is a diagnosis — it means early support, which works beautifully at this age, is worth exploring now.
Read the answer AnswerSigns of sensory delay in a 6-year-old
By six, most children manage everyday sensory experiences well enough to learn and play. A sensory processing difference is worth a clinician's look when strong reactions to sound, texture, movement or touch are frequent, intense and genuinely disrupt school, friendships, eating, dressing or sleep. Watch for over-responsiveness (covering ears, distress at clothing tags), under-responsiveness (not noticing being called or hurt) or sensory-seeking (constant crashing, chewing, craving movement). This is a reason to assess early — not a diagnosis — because support at this age works beautifully.
Read the answer AnswerSigns of Sensory Delay in a 9-to-12-Month-Old
At 9–12 months, babies explore through sound, sight, touch and movement, and there is a wide healthy range of how strongly each reacts. Seek a developmental check if your baby consistently does not respond to sounds or their name, is unusually distressed or unbothered by touch and movement, or is not reaching for and exploring objects. Any hearing or vision concern deserves a prompt check. This is a reason to assess early — not a diagnosis.
Read the answer AnswerWhat are the signs of sensory delay in a newborn?
In the newborn period there is no meaningful diagnosis of sensory delay — the senses are still maturing. What matters is that basic responses are present: startling to loud sound, fixing briefly on a face, turning to light, and settling to touch. Seek a prompt paediatric check if your baby never startles to sound (or had an unclear hearing screen), doesn't fix on a face or follow light by 6–8 weeks, is very floppy or stiff, or won't settle to touch. This is a reason to check early, not a label.
Read the answer AnswerSigns of Social Delay in a 12-to-18-Month-Old
By 12–18 months, most toddlers share smiles, follow your gaze, point to show things, respond to their name, and copy gestures like waving. Seek a developmental check if your toddler rarely makes eye contact, doesn't point or show objects, doesn't respond to their name, shows little interest in shared play, or has lost a social skill. These are reasons to assess early, not a diagnosis — early support works best at this age.
Read the answer AnswerSigns of social delay in an 18-to-24-month-old
At 18–24 months, social development shows as sharing smiles, pointing to show you things, responding to their name, and copying you in play. Gentle signs worth a developmental check include little eye contact or shared joy, not pointing, not responding to name, little interest in others, or not imitating — especially if these appear together or a skill has faded. These are reasons to assess early, not a diagnosis, and hearing should be checked first.
Read the answer AnswerSigns of social delay in a 2-year-old
By two years most toddlers share moments with you — copying actions, pointing to show interest, checking your face, and enjoying simple games. Gentle reasons for a developmental check include little eye contact or shared smiling, not pointing to show, rarely imitating, not responding to their name, or little interest in others. These are reasons to assess early, not a diagnosis, because support works best when it begins early.
Read the answer AnswerSigns of social delay in a 3-to-6-month-old
Between 3 and 6 months, social connection shows up as smiling back, holding eye contact, cooing in a to-and-fro, and brightening for familiar faces. There is wide healthy variation, so one quiet day is rarely a worry. Seek a gentle developmental check if, by around 6 months, your baby rarely smiles at people, seldom makes eye contact, doesn't coo or babble back, or has lost a skill. This is a reason to look early — not a diagnosis.
Read the answer AnswerSigns of Social Delay in a 3-Year-Old
At three, most children enjoy other children, take turns in simple games, pretend in play, and share feelings. Gentle signs worth a developmental check include little interest in peers, no pretend play, rarely sharing smiles or looking for reassurance, difficulty with turn-taking, or not responding to their name. These are reasons to assess early — not a diagnosis — because early support works best at this age.
Read the answer AnswerWhat are the signs of social delay in a 4-year-old?
By four, most children play cooperatively with other children, take turns, share imaginative play, show empathy and hold a simple back-and-forth conversation. Gentle signs worth a developmental check include little interest in peers, difficulty sharing or taking turns, not noticing others' feelings, or conversation that doesn't flow. This is not a diagnosis — it means a clinician's calm look is wise now, because early support works best.
Read the answer AnswerWhat are the signs of social delay in a 5-year-old?
By five, most children make friends, take turns, share pretend games and read simple feelings. Gentle signs worth a check include little interest in other children, one-sided conversation, difficulty taking turns or joining group play, and trouble reading feelings. This is reason to assess early — not a diagnosis — because support at this age works beautifully.
Read the answer AnswerSigns of social delay in a 6-to-9-month-old
By 6–9 months most babies are sharing smiles, turning to your voice, enjoying peek-a-boo and recognising familiar faces. Reasons to seek a gentle developmental check include rarely smiling back, not responding to your voice, little eye contact or shared joy, being hard to engage in back-and-forth play, or losing a social skill once had. This is not a diagnosis — babies vary widely — but an early calm look helps, because support works beautifully at this age.
Read the answer AnswerWhat are the signs of social delay in a 6-year-old?
By six, most children make and keep friends, take turns, share, follow simple rules and read basic feelings. Signs that a developmental check may help include difficulty joining or sustaining peer play, struggling with turn-taking, missing social cues like tone and facial expression, very one-sided conversations, or strong distress with friendship give-and-take. These are reasons to assess gently — not a diagnosis — because early social support works best.
Read the answer AnswerWhat are the signs of social delay in a 9-to-12-month-old?
Between 9 and 12 months, most babies share smiles, respond to their name, wave, point and enjoy peek-a-boo. Gentle signs worth a developmental check include little eye contact or shared smiling, no response to name, no babbling or gestures, and little interest in simple social games. These are reasons to look closely early — not a diagnosis — because support at this age works wonderfully.
Read the answer AnswerWhat are the signs of social delay in a newborn?
There is no meaningful checklist of social delay in a newborn — connection emerges gradually. In the first 3 months, watch for warm cues like settling to your voice, looking at faces, and the first social smile around 6–8 weeks. If by 2–3 months your baby doesn't smile back, look at faces, or respond to your voice — or if you worry about hearing or alertness — arrange a calm developmental check. This is early reassurance and monitoring, not a diagnosis.
Read the answer AnswerADHD red flags warranting referral in young children
Refer a young child when inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity are age-inappropriate, persistent (≥6 months), pervasive across ≥2 settings and functionally impairing — and not better explained by hearing loss, sleep disorder, anxiety or global delay. A confident ADHD label below ~4–5 years is rarely appropriate; assess and monitor.
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