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3
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Signs & concerns
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Signs & concerns
When should I worry about Intellectual Disability at 12–18 months?
At 12–18 months it is too early to diagnose Intellectual Disability — this is a watch-and-support stage, not a labelling one. Track the overall pattern across play, communication and movement; a persistent lag across several areas, or loss of skills, is a reason for a friendly developmental check. Only a clinician can assess, and meaningful assessment comes later.
Read the answer AnswerWhen should I worry that my 12-to-18-month-old might have Sensory Processing Differences?
At 12–18 months, sensory likes and dislikes are normal and we watch patterns rather than diagnose. Worry sooner if intense, lasting distress with sound, touch or movement disrupts eating, sleep or play — and rule out hearing first. Only a Pinnacle clinician can confirm anything.
Read the answer AnswerWhen should I worry about SLD in a 12-to-18-month-old?
Specific Learning Disability is about reading, writing and maths — skills that haven't begun at 12–18 months, so it can't be identified or worried about this early. It usually becomes clear around ages 6–8. For now, watch broad milestones like babbling, pointing, understanding and walking; a persistent pattern of several delays is reason for a general developmental check, not a label.
Read the answer AnswerWhen should I worry about speech delay at 12–18 months?
At 12–18 months, range is wide and one quiet talker is rarely cause for alarm. Worry becomes meaningful with a pattern: no babble or gestures by 12 months, no words by 15–18 months, no understanding of simple requests, or loss of skills once gained. A check — starting with hearing — is the hopeful next step; only a clinician can tell delay from a phase.
Read the answer AnswerWhen should I worry my 18–24-month-old has ADHD?
At 18–24 months, ADHD cannot yet be meaningfully identified — high energy and short attention are normal toddler behaviour. ADHD is reliably assessed only from around age 4–5. Channel any worry into a general developmental check, never a premature label. Only a clinician can assess.
Read the answer AnswerWhen should I worry about autism at 18–24 months?
From 18 to 24 months, screening for autism becomes reliable and meaningful. A persistent cluster — limited pointing, few words, little response to name, reduced social back-and-forth, or repetitive movements — is worth checking. Worry is a reason to screen, not a diagnosis; only a clinician can confirm.
Read the answer AnswerWhen should I worry that my 18-to-24-month-old might have Cerebral Palsy?
Worry is reasonable, but worry is not a diagnosis. By 18–24 months, persistent patterns — not walking, stiff or floppy tone, strongly favouring one hand, or poor balance — are worth a prompt check. Only a clinician can confirm Cerebral Palsy, and early support works beautifully.
Read the answer AnswerWhen Should I Worry About Down Syndrome at 18–24 Months?
Down syndrome is a genetic condition present from birth and is almost always identified at or soon after birth via physical signs and a blood test — it does not newly appear at 18–24 months. What matters at this age is watching overall development; any delay deserves a general check, not a feared label.
Read the answer AnswerWhen should I worry about Global Developmental Delay at 18–24 months?
At 18–24 months, worry is reasonable if your child is behind in two or more areas at once — movement, words, understanding, play — or has lost skills. One slow area often catches up; a pattern across several is the real flag. Worry is a reason to check, not a diagnosis.
Read the answer AnswerWhen should I worry about hearing in my 18–24-month-old?
By 18–24 months a child should turn to your voice, respond to their name and use a few growing words. If your toddler misses everyday sounds, follows only gestures, or has very few words, ask for a hearing check — a fresh test is always reasonable, even after a newborn screen. Only a clinician can confirm anything.
Read the answer AnswerWhen to worry about SLD in an 18–24-month-old
At 18–24 months it isn't clinically meaningful to look for Specific Learning Disability — it concerns reading, writing and maths skills your toddler hasn't begun yet, and is usually recognised only around ages 6–8. For now, watch broader development — talking, understanding, play and movement — and route any concern to a general developmental check.
Read the answer AnswerWhen should I worry about speech and language delay at 18–24 months?
Between 18 and 24 months there's a wide normal range, but very few words, no pointing or gestures, not understanding simple instructions, or losing words are worth a gentle check. A single quiet phase often resolves; a persistent pattern is the real flag. A screen brings clarity — only a clinician can confirm anything.
Read the answer AnswerWhen should I worry that my 2-year-old might have ADHD?
At two, ADHD cannot be reliably diagnosed — high energy and short attention are normal toddler behaviour. ADHD becomes identifiable around age 4–5, when a persistent pattern shows across settings. If your child's overall development worries you, a general developmental check, not an ADHD label, is the right next step.
Read the answer AnswerWhen should I worry about autism in my 2-year-old?
At two, worry is reasonable when you see a pattern — few words, no pointing, not responding to name, little pretend-play, or lost skills — rather than one quirk. Two is an ideal age to screen, and only a clinician can confirm anything.
Read the answer AnswerWhen should I worry that my 2-year-old might have Cerebral Palsy?
By age two, persistent stiffness or floppiness, strong early hand preference, unsteady or absent walking, or one-sided weakness are worth a check — not a single off day. These signal a reason to assess, not a diagnosis. Only a Pinnacle clinician can confirm Cerebral Palsy.
Read the answer AnswerWhen should I worry that my 2-year-old might have Global Developmental Delay?
Worry is reasonable when a two-year-old is behind in two or more areas at once, loses skills, or feels persistently delayed — but worry is not a diagnosis. One delayed area is often a phase; a pattern across areas is the flag to check. Only a clinician can confirm Global Developmental Delay.
Read the answer AnswerWhen should I worry that my 2-year-old might have Hearing Impairment?
By age two, worry is reasonable if your child doesn't respond to their name or soft sounds, watches faces intently to understand, or has very few clear words. A painless hearing test can confirm or rule it out quickly — and earlier is better. Only a clinician can diagnose.
Read the answer AnswerWhen should I worry my 2-year-old might have Intellectual Disability?
At two it is too early to confirm Intellectual Disability — the brain is still developing rapidly. Watch development as a whole, and check any concern early. A pattern of delay across communication, play and daily skills, or loss of a skill, is a reason for a developmental check — not a diagnosis you can make at home.
Read the answer AnswerWhen should I worry about Sensory Processing Differences at 2?
At two, big sensory reactions are common and often normal. Worry is reasonable when reactions are intense, persistent and disrupt feeding, sleep, dressing or play. That is a reason to check — not a diagnosis. Only a Pinnacle clinician can assess your child properly.
Read the answer AnswerWhen should I worry that my 2-year-old might have Specific Learning Disability?
At two, Specific Learning Disability cannot be diagnosed — it only becomes meaningful around ages 6–8 when formal learning begins. At this age, simply nurture and observe your child's language, play and listening. If those building blocks concern you, a general developmental check brings clarity. Only a clinician confirms anything.
Read the answer AnswerWhen should I worry that my 2-year-old might have Speech and Language Delay?
At two, most children use about 50 words and start joining two together. Below this — or with loss of words, little gesturing or no response to name — a developmental check is wise. Worry is a good reason to look, not a diagnosis. Only a Pinnacle clinician can confirm.
Read the answer AnswerWhen should I worry that my 3-to-6-month-old might have ADHD?
ADHD cannot be identified in a 3-to-6-month-old, and clinicians do not diagnose it this early — infant fidgetiness and short attention are normal. At this age, track ordinary milestones like smiling, babbling and head control instead, and route any general concern to a developmental check.
Read the answer AnswerWhen should I worry about autism in a 3-to-6-month-old?
At 3 to 6 months, autism cannot be diagnosed and there is no reliable signs list this young. Watch your baby's everyday social development — smiling, cooing, turning to sounds — and raise concerns with your paediatrician. Structured autism screening usually begins near 18 months; only a clinician can assess.
Read the answer AnswerWhen should I worry about Cerebral Palsy at 3–6 months?
At 3–6 months CP isn't diagnosed at home, but persistent stiff or floppy tone, poor head control, early strong hand preference or one-sided movement are reasons to ask for a developmental check. Worry is a reason to check, not a diagnosis — only a clinician can confirm.
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