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Book Assessment
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Signs & concerns
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Signs & concerns
What developmental conditions can echolalia point to?
Echolalia is a normal stage of language acquisition up to ~30 months. Persisting beyond that or alongside other differences, it may point to autism spectrum disorder, developmental language disorder, global delay, hearing impairment, gestalt language processing, or certain genetic conditions. Functional intent matters more than presence alone.
Read the answer AnswerWhat developmental conditions can running off in public point to?
Running off in public (elopement) is a transdiagnostic behavioural sign, not a diagnosis. It most often points to autism spectrum disorder, ADHD-type impulsivity, intellectual or global developmental delay, or communication impairment. Given the safety risk, it warrants prompt structured developmental review rather than watchful waiting.
Read the answer AnswerWhat developmental conditions can screen-time meltdowns point to?
Screen-time meltdowns are usually a normal response to reward withdrawal, not a diagnosis. As a non-specific marker, persistent, pervasive or disproportionate meltdowns can point towards autism spectrum, ADHD, underlying speech/language needs, sensory processing differences or emerging anxiety — referral is warranted only when they cluster with other delays or cross settings.
Read the answer AnswerWhat developmental conditions can seeking spinning movement point to?
Seeking spinning movement is most often benign vestibular-seeking behaviour. It becomes clinically relevant when intense, persistent or co-occurring with social-communication, motor or regulatory differences — pointing variously to sensory processing patterns, autism spectrum, ADHD or global delay. Pattern and functional impact, not the behaviour alone, drive referral.
Read the answer AnswerWhat developmental conditions can separation anxiety in a child point to?
Separation anxiety is usually a normal phase peaking at 10–18 months. When intense, persistent beyond the expected window, or paired with other developmental differences, it can present alongside separation anxiety disorder, broader anxiety, autism, global delay or ADHD — the cross-setting pattern guides referral.
Read the answer AnswerWhat developmental conditions can stool withholding point to?
Stool withholding is usually functional constipation, not a developmental disorder. When severe, persistent, or paired with other findings it can point to autism spectrum, global developmental delay or intellectual disability, or anxiety. Exclude organic causes (e.g. Hirschsprung) first; refer for developmental profiling when toileting difficulty crosses domains.
Read the answer AnswerWhat developmental conditions can stuttering point to?
Stuttering is usually an isolated developmental phenomenon, but can co-occur with developmental language disorder, speech sound disorder, ADHD, autism spectrum disorder or global delay. Sudden or late onset after a neurological event signals neurogenic stuttering needing prompt medical review rather than therapy first.
Read the answer AnswerWhat developmental conditions can tantrums in a child point to?
Tantrums are usually normal development between 1 and 4 years. They point to an underlying condition only when disproportionately frequent, intense or prolonged, or when they persist past the preschool years alongside communication, hearing, sensory, attentional or social red flags — at which point structured developmental assessment is warranted.
Read the answer AnswerWhat developmental conditions can throwing objects point to?
Throwing objects is usually age-typical exploration or limit-testing. It points to a developmental condition only when persistent, pervasive across settings, disproportionate to age, and clustered with other signs — language delay, autism, ADHD/regulation difficulties, sensory or motor issues, or global delay. Refer when throwing escalates, injures, or co-occurs with communication, social or regulation concerns.
Read the answer AnswerWhat developmental conditions can toe-walking point to?
Persistent toe-walking beyond age 2 can point to idiopathic habitual toe-walking, cerebral palsy, autism spectrum disorder, neuromuscular disease such as Duchenne muscular dystrophy, tethered cord, or global/language delay. Asymmetry, contracture, hypertonia, calf hypertrophy or regression warrant prompt medical referral.
Read the answer AnswerToilet-Training Resistance as a Developmental Signal
Toilet-training resistance is usually a normal phase, but when marked, prolonged or age-incongruent it can flag autism, ADHD, global delay, DCD, sensory processing or language differences — and most commonly, treatable constipation with withholding. Screen the medical layer first, then the developmental pattern beneath the behaviour.
Read the answer AnswerVery Early Rising: What Developmental Conditions It Can Point To
Very early rising is usually a benign circadian or behavioural variant, not a diagnosis. It becomes clinically meaningful only when clustered with other findings — social-communication, attention or regulation concerns, regression, dysmorphism, or genuine sleep insufficiency — when it may accompany autism, ADHD or specific genetic syndromes. Screen the company it keeps, not the early waking alone.
Read the answer AnswerDevelopmental red flags in a 12-to-18-month-old
Most 12-to-18-month-olds point, babble, copy you and pull to stand or toddle. Gentle flags worth a clinician's eye are no babbling or gestures, not responding to their name, no single words by around 18 months, little eye contact or shared smiling, not standing or walking with support by 15–18 months, or losing a skill once had. These are reasons to check early — not a diagnosis — because support at this age works wonderfully.
Read the answer AnswerDevelopmental red flags in an 18-to-24-month-old
By 18–24 months most toddlers use several words, point to share, walk confidently and copy everyday actions. Gentle flags worth a developmental check include very few or no words by 18 months, no two-word phrases by 24 months, no pointing, little eye contact or response to name, not walking by 18 months, or loss of a skill once had. These are reasons to assess early — not a diagnosis — because support at this age works best.
Read the answer AnswerWhat developmental red flags should I watch for in a 2-year-old?
Most two-year-olds use lots of single words and some two-word phrases, point to share interest, walk and climb, and copy you in pretend play. Worth a developmental check are: few or no two-word phrases, not pointing or responding to name, little eye contact or pretend play, not walking, or losing a skill once had. These are reasons to assess early, not a diagnosis, because support at this age works best.
Read the answer AnswerDevelopmental red flags in a 3-to-6-month-old
From 3 to 6 months, most babies smile, coo, track faces, reach and gain head control, with normal variation in pace. Seek a gentle developmental check if, near 6 months, your baby isn't smiling socially, not following objects with their eyes, not making sounds back, not holding their head steady, or has lost a skill once had. These are reasons to assess early — not a diagnosis — because early support works best.
Read the answer AnswerDevelopmental red flags in a 3-year-old
By three, most children speak in short sentences, play pretend, run and climb, and show strong independence — all typical. Seek a developmental check if your child uses very few words or is hard to understand, doesn't play pretend or with other children, can't follow simple instructions, frequently falls, or has lost skills once had. This is a reason to assess early, not a diagnosis, because support at this age works best.
Read the answer AnswerDevelopmental Red Flags in a 4-Year-Old
Most 4-year-olds speak in full sentences, play make-believe with friends, hop on one foot and draw simple shapes. Seek a developmental check if your child isn't using short sentences, can't be understood outside the family, avoids other children, struggles with everyday self-care, or has lost a skill once had. These are reasons to assess early — not a diagnosis — because support at this age works beautifully.
Read the answer AnswerWhat developmental red flags should I watch for in a 5-year-old?
Most five-year-olds speak in clear sentences, play imaginatively with friends, and manage simple self-care. Seek a developmental check if your child is hard for strangers to understand, can't follow simple two-step instructions, avoids other children, has big behaviour swings, struggles with hopping or drawing, or has lost a skill once had. These are reasons to assess early — not a diagnosis — because support works best before school begins.
Read the answer AnswerWhat developmental red flags should I watch for in a 6-to-9-month-old?
Between 6 and 9 months, babies are usually sitting, babbling, reaching and lighting up at familiar faces, and small differences in pace are normal. Seek a developmental check if your baby has no head control, very stiff or floppy muscles, little interest in people or sounds, no reaching or grasping, no babbling, or has lost a skill once gained. These are reasons to assess early, not a diagnosis, because support at this age works best.
Read the answer AnswerWhat developmental red flags should I watch for in a 6-year-old?
Most six-year-olds are talking in full sentences, making friends and beginning to read. Seek a developmental and learning check if your child is hard to understand, can't follow two-step instructions, finds letters and numbers very difficult despite teaching, struggles with friendships or big feelings, or has lost a skill once had. These are reasons to assess early at school age — not a diagnosis — because early support works best.
Read the answer AnswerWhat developmental red flags should I watch for in a 9-to-12-month-old?
Between 9 and 12 months, babies vary widely and most differences are normal. Gentle flags worth a clinician's check include no babbling, not responding to their name, little eye contact or shared smiles, not sitting independently, not reaching for objects, no interest in games like peek-a-boo, or loss of a skill once had. These are reasons to assess early — not a diagnosis — because early support works best.
Read the answer AnswerDevelopmental red flags in a newborn
In a newborn it is too early to look for labels like autism — what matters are feeding, breathing, colour, muscle tone, movement, alertness and responses to sound and faces. Most variation is normal. Speak to your paediatrician promptly about poor feeding, floppy or stiff tone, or not startling to sound; seek urgent care the same day for blue lips, breathing trouble, fever, a very hard-to-wake baby, or possible seizures. These are medical, not therapy-first, concerns.
Read the answer AnswerWhat does a delay in Child-Characteristics mean for my child?
Child-Characteristics is your toddler's unique mix of how they behave, play, communicate and connect. A delay means one of these patterns is unfolding a little later or differently than typical between 12 and 36 months — it is not a diagnosis. The right next step is a gentle developmental check, because early support works best at this age.
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