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Asha Phc
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Signs & concerns
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Signs & concerns
What does it mean if my child is not yet showing visual spatial processing?
Visual spatial processing — how a child understands where objects are and how they fit together — is still forming between 1 and 3 years. A toddler not yet stacking, sorting shapes or doing simple puzzles is usually still developing, not behind. A developmental check is wise if these skills lag well behind peers or seem stuck for months. This is a reason to observe and support, never a diagnosis.
Read the answer AnswerWhat does it mean if my child is not yet showing visuospatial skills?
Between 3 and 7, visuospatial skills (seeing and working with shapes, space and direction) grow at very different rates, so "not yet" usually means still emerging, not a problem. Seek a gentle developmental check if your child consistently struggles well behind peers with puzzles, blocks, copying shapes or finding their way — and have vision checked too. This opens early, play-based support, never a label.
Read the answer AnswerWhat does it mean if my child is not yet showing vocabulary?
If your 3-to-7-year-old isn't yet showing expected vocabulary, it usually means their expressive language is developing more slowly in this one area — not a diagnosis. Children learn words at very different paces, and many simply need richer, playful language input. A gentle developmental check now is wise, because early support for vocabulary works best when started early.
Read the answer AnswerWhat does it mean if my child isn't yet showing vocabulary comprehension and expression?
Between 12 and 36 months, the range of normal language is very wide, and understanding (comprehension) usually comes before talking (expression). If your toddler isn't yet showing clear vocabulary, it most often means language is still emerging — not that something is wrong. A gentle developmental check, including a hearing check, is wise because early language support works best at this age. This is a reason to look, never a diagnosis.
Read the answer AnswerWhat it means if your child isn't yet showing vocabulary knowledge
If your child isn't yet showing the vocabulary you'd expect, it usually means their language is still building — sometimes more slowly — not that something is wrong. Between 3 and 7, watch for very few words, no short phrases, difficulty naming things or understanding instructions, and check hearing. This is a reason for an early developmental check, not a diagnosis, because language responds strongly to early, playful support.
Read the answer AnswerWhat does it mean if my child isn't showing vocalization development?
If your toddler is not yet showing expected vocalization development, it usually means their sounds and early words need a closer look — not that something is wrong. Between 12 and 36 months the typical range is wide, and many children flourish with gentle, playful support. A developmental check now is a calm, wise step, never a diagnosis, because early support works best.
Read the answer AnswerWhat it means if your child is not yet walking
Most children walk between 12 and 15 months, with a healthy range to about 18 months. A toddler who is not yet walking but pulling to stand, cruising or crawling well is usually just on their own pace. Seek a developmental check if there are no independent steps by 18 months, if one side is favoured or movements look stiff or floppy, or if not-walking comes with other delays. This is a reason to observe early, not a diagnosis.
Read the answer AnswerWhat does it mean if my child is not yet showing walking balance?
Between 3 and 7 years, walking balance is still maturing, so some wobbliness — especially on one foot, uneven ground or when turning — is usually typical and improves with time and practice. Seek a developmental check if balance is markedly behind peers, getting worse, comes with frequent unexplained falls, toe-walking, stiffness, or delays in other skills. This is a reason to assess early, not a diagnosis, because support at this age works best.
Read the answer AnswerWhat does it mean if my child is not yet showing word knowledge?
Word knowledge is how many words a child understands and uses, and how they link words to meaning. In a 3-to-7-year-old, not yet showing expected word knowledge usually means language is growing at its own pace — and sometimes that extra support would help. It is not a diagnosis, but a clear, kind reason to arrange a developmental check, because language support works best early.
Read the answer AnswerWhat does it mean if my child is not yet showing working memory?
In toddlers aged 1–3, working memory is only just beginning to emerge and develops gradually and unevenly — so not yet seeing it clearly is usually typical, not a diagnosis. Look for small sparks like following a simple instruction or finding a hidden toy. Seek a general developmental check only if you also notice no words by 18–24 months, no pointing or name response, or loss of skills.
Read the answer AnswerEarly signs of ADHD on a home visit
ADHD is not diagnosed on a home visit or in toddlers. From age 4–5, frontline workers should note a persistent pattern of inattention, overactivity and impulsivity that is greater than same-age peers, appears across home and school, and disrupts daily life — then route to a developmental check, never label.
Read the answer AnswerEarly Signs of Attachment Difficulties on a Home Visit
During a home visit, watch how baby and caregiver respond to each other: a baby who rarely seeks or takes comfort, doesn't settle when held, or shows little joy — alongside a caregiver who is flat, harsh or rarely responsive. Look for a persistent pattern, note family stress, reassure, and route to a developmental check — never diagnose on the spot.
Read the answer AnswerEarly Signs of Auditory Processing Difficulties on a Home Visit
Watch for a child who hears the sound but misses the message — frequent "what?", inconsistent response to name, trouble following instructions in noise, and parents saying "he hears when he wants to." First step is a hearing test plus developmental check; only a clinician can confirm.
Read the answer AnswerEarly autism signs on a home visit
On a home visit, watch how the child shares attention, responds to name, communicates and plays, plus repetitive movements or distress at change. No single sign confirms autism — a persistent pattern, or any loss of skills, means guide the family to a developmental check. Trust parental concern.
Read the answer AnswerEarly signs of Cerebral Palsy on a home visit
On a home visit, refer for cerebral palsy assessment when a baby feels unusually stiff or floppy, favours one side, fists hands past 3–4 months, or misses motor milestones such as head control, rolling or sitting. Feeding difficulty and persistent parental concern matter too. These warrant prompt referral, not wait-and-see.
Read the answer AnswerWhat early signs of Childhood Anxiety should a frontline health worker look for during a home visit?
On a home visit, look for fear or worry stronger and longer-lasting than expected for age that disrupts sleep, eating, school or play — unexplained tummy aches, extreme clinging, avoidance and constant reassurance-seeking across settings. Persistent distress for several weeks warrants a gentle referral; only a clinician can confirm.
Read the answer AnswerEarly Signs of Childhood Apraxia of Speech for Frontline Health Workers
On a home visit, look for very limited babble, late and few first words, the same word said differently on each attempt, visible mouth groping, and speech far harder to understand than expected — especially when the child clearly understands language but cannot speak it. Refer to a speech-language pathologist; arrange a hearing check too. Only a clinician can confirm CAS.
Read the answer AnswerEarly signs of childhood epilepsy on a home visit
Refer promptly any child showing repeated unexplained spells — sudden stiffening or jerking, blank staring with no response, infant spasms in clusters, or sudden falls. Epilepsy is medical, not therapy-first: any single observed or clearly reported spell warrants doctor referral, and prolonged convulsions are emergencies.
Read the answer AnswerEarly signs of childhood sleep difficulties for frontline workers
On a home visit, watch for a child who struggles to fall or stay asleep, sleeps too little for age, snores or pauses breathing, or is drowsy and very irritable by day. Persistent patterns across several nights, plus an exhausted parent, are cues to refer — and any breathing pauses need prompt medical review.
Read the answer AnswerEarly Signs of Conduct-Dissocial Disorder on a Home Visit
On a home visit, watch for a persistent, cross-setting pattern over many months — repeated aggression, serious rule-breaking, destruction or dishonesty beyond age expectation — not single incidents. Note family stress kindly, refer for review when the pattern persists or risk exists, and never label the child.
Read the answer AnswerEarly Signs of DCD to Spot During a Home Visit
During a home visit, look for a child who finds everyday movement harder than peers — frequent falls, trouble with spoon, cup, buttons and stairs, and clumsiness that doesn't match effort or intelligence. These are early DCD flags worth a developmental check; only a clinician can confirm.
Read the answer AnswerEarly Signs of Developmental Language Disorder on a Home Visit
On a home visit, watch for a child whose words come late and whose understanding lags peers — few words by 18 months, no two-word phrases by 2 years, hard to understand, or trouble following simple instructions — when hearing and play seem otherwise fine. Rule out hearing loss and route for a developmental and speech check.
Read the answer AnswerEarly signs of developmental regression on a home visit
Developmental regression is the loss of skills a child once had — words, gestures, play, social warmth, walking or hand use. Any clear loss of a previously acquired skill at any age warrants prompt referral, not watch-and-wait. Frontline workers should listen to the family's account, note what was lost and when, and refer quickly — same-day if seizures, drowsiness or illness are present.
Read the answer AnswerEarly Signs of Developmental Trauma on a Home Visit
On a home visit, watch for patterns across visits: a child hard to soothe or oddly withdrawn, frozen watchfulness, disrupted sleep and feeding, stalling milestones, plus an overwhelmed or frightened caregiver. These are signals to support and refer warmly — not to label. Only a qualified clinician can assess.
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