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Signs & concerns
Early signs of intellectual disability in a newborn
Intellectual disability (ICD-11 6A00) cannot be diagnosed in a newborn, because it is defined by how a child learns and reasons over time — skills a baby hasn't yet had the chance to show. In the 0–3 month period, watch general development and complete routine newborn screening rather than looking for ID-specific signs. Concerns about intellectual development become clearer across the toddler years through repeated milestone checks.
Read the answer AnswerEarly Signs of Specific Learning Disability
Specific Learning Disability shows as persistent, unexpected difficulty with reading, writing or maths in a child of normal intelligence and effort. Many signs only become clear once school learning begins around age 6–8, so before then we watch and support rather than label. Persistent struggle despite good teaching warrants a structured assessment.
Read the answer AnswerEarly Signs of Specific Learning Disability at 12–18 Months
Specific Learning Disability cannot be identified in a 12-to-18-month-old — it concerns reading, writing and maths skills, recognisable only once a child begins formal learning, usually after age 6 to 8. At this age there are no SLD signs to watch; instead observe broad development — babble, words, pointing, understanding, play and walking. Any worry deserves a general developmental check, not a learning-disability assessment.
Read the answer AnswerEarly Signs of Specific Learning Disability at 18-to-24 Months
A Specific Learning Disability cannot be identified at 18-to-24 months — it becomes meaningful only once formal reading, writing and arithmetic begin, around ages 6 to 8. At this age, watch broad communication, play and motor milestones, nurture rich language, and seek a general developmental review for any persistent concern or loss of skills.
Read the answer AnswerEarly signs of Specific Learning Disability in a 2-year-old
Specific Learning Disability cannot be identified in a 2-year-old — it only becomes meaningful around 6 to 8 years, when formal academic learning begins. At two, simply watch broad language, play and communication milestones, and raise any concern with a general developmental check rather than a learning-disability assessment.
Read the answer AnswerEarly signs of Specific Learning Disability in a 3-to-6-month-old
Specific Learning Disability has no early signs in a 3-to-6-month-old — it affects reading, writing and maths and is usually recognised around ages 6 to 8 once schooling begins. At this age, simply track general milestones like smiling, reaching and head control, and book a routine developmental check if anything seems consistently absent.
Read the answer AnswerEarly signs of Specific Learning Disability in a 3-year-old
A 3-year-old cannot be diagnosed with Specific Learning Disability — the label becomes meaningful only once formal reading, writing and number work begin, around age 6-8. At three, nurture and gently watch language, attention and play foundations; if something feels off, a general developmental check is the right step, not a learning-disability label.
Read the answer AnswerEarly Signs of Specific Learning Disability in a 4-Year-Old
A Specific Learning Disability cannot be diagnosed at four, because reading, writing and arithmetic aren't yet formally taught. What you can watch are language, pre-literacy and pre-number foundations — trouble with rhymes, learning letters, recalling sequences or counting. These are reasons for a gentle developmental check, not alarm.
Read the answer AnswerEarly Signs of Specific Learning Disability in a 5-Year-Old
At five, a formal Specific Learning Disability diagnosis is usually too early, as reading and number skills are still emerging. Watch for clusters of clues — trouble with rhyming, letter sounds, sequencing or memory — that persist across home and school. Reliable identification typically comes at ages 6–8 once formal schooling begins; for now, monitor and enrich with language and play.
Read the answer AnswerEarly Signs of Specific Learning Disability in a 6-to-9-Month-Old
Specific Learning Disability cannot be identified in a 6-to-9-month-old — it describes difficulty with reading, writing or arithmetic and only becomes meaningful around ages 6–8 once a child is learning these skills. At this age, simply watch general milestones like babbling, responding to name and shared smiles, and raise any concern about hearing or development at a routine paediatric check.
Read the answer AnswerEarly Signs of Specific Learning Disability in a 6-Year-Old
At six, watch for unexpected, persistent difficulty with reading, letter-sound links, spelling, untidy effortful writing, letter or number reversals, and number sense — in a child who is otherwise bright and articulate. These are early signals to watch, not a diagnosis; only a qualified clinician can confirm, and early, structured support works well.
Read the answer AnswerEarly Signs of Specific Learning Disability in a 9-to-12-Month-Old
Specific Learning Disability cannot be identified in a 9-to-12-month-old — it affects reading, writing, spelling and maths, skills that emerge only after schooling begins, usually around age 6–8. There is no infant sign list. Instead, track general communication, hearing, motor and play milestones, and act promptly on any general developmental delay with a developmental check.
Read the answer AnswerEarly signs of Specific Learning Disability in a newborn
Specific Learning Disability cannot be identified in a newborn — it is a difficulty with academic skills like reading, writing and maths that only emerges once formal learning begins, usually around 6–8 years. A newborn needs ordinary loving care and routine developmental checks, not an SLD screen. Watch general foundations like hearing, vision, social smiling and feeding instead.
Read the answer AnswerWhat are the red flags in Cognitive development?
Red flags in cognitive development include little curiosity in exploring objects, not searching for hidden toys past 9–12 months, difficulty following simple instructions, limited pretend play, and slow grasp of concepts like sorting or counting. Many children vary in pace, so these are signs to observe and monitor, not diagnose at home. A gap that persists across months or affects more than one area is best brought to a developmental check early, where hearing and vision screening usually come first.
Read the answer AnswerWhat are the red flags in Communication development?
Red flags in communication development include limited eye contact or shared smiling in infancy, no babbling by 12 months, no single words by 16 months, no two-word phrases by 24 months, any loss of words or skills once gained, and few gestures like pointing or waving. Communication has a wide normal range, so these are signs to observe and act on early, not to diagnose at home. A persistent or widening delay, more than one area affected, or any loss of skills is always worth a prompt check — starting with hearing.
Read the answer AnswerWhat are the red flags in Social development?
Red flags in social development include limited eye contact, little social smiling by ~3 months, not responding to name by 12 months, not pointing or sharing interest, and little interest in other children or pretend play. These are signs to observe and monitor — not to diagnose at home. A persistent or widening pattern across several months, or any loss of skills, warrants a friendly developmental check, starting with a hearing screen.
Read the answer AnswerWhat cognitive difficulties might a teacher notice in a young child?
A teacher may notice a young child who struggles to follow multi-step instructions, takes longer to grasp and retain new ideas, has trouble paying attention or finishing tasks, and finds problem-solving or pretend play harder than peers. A persistent pattern across weeks and settings — not a one-off — is what warrants a supportive developmental check.
Read the answer AnswerCognitive milestones for your 12-to-18-month-old
Between 12 and 18 months most toddlers begin finding hidden toys, imitating everyday actions, using objects correctly, following simple instructions and starting basic pretend play. These are emerging skills that grow week by week — a band of typical progress, not a strict checklist. If several lag by 18 months, a gentle developmental check is wise.
Read the answer AnswerWhat Cognitive milestones should my 18-to-24-month-old have reached?
Between 18 and 24 months most toddlers begin pretend play, follow one-step instructions, point to name pictures or body parts, and solve simple problems by trial and error. These are guides, not deadlines — a single missing skill is rarely a worry, but persistent gaps deserve a friendly developmental check.
Read the answer AnswerCognitive milestones for your 2-year-old
By age two, most toddlers find hidden toys, sort shapes, stack blocks, follow simple two-step instructions, name familiar pictures and begin pretend play — early signs of growing memory, attention and problem-solving. These are gentle guideposts, not a pass-or-fail test.
Read the answer AnswerCognitive milestones for your 3-to-6-month-old
Between 3 and 6 months, cognitive milestones appear as curiosity: recognising familiar faces, following moving objects, exploring toys by reaching and mouthing, and expecting a response to coos and smiles. Babies develop at different paces, so a few weeks' variation is usually normal — a developmental check brings reassurance if you have concerns.
Read the answer AnswerWhat cognitive milestones should my 3-year-old have reached?
By age 3, most children complete simple puzzles, sort by colour or shape, follow two-step instructions, name a few colours and enjoy pretend play. These cognitive milestones emerge across a healthy range — a gentle developmental check is wise only if pretend play, instruction-following or problem-solving interest seem absent by 3–3½.
Read the answer AnswerWhat cognitive milestones should my 4-year-old have reached?
By four, most children count to ten, name colours, follow two- to three-step instructions, enjoy rich pretend play, and answer simple 'why' questions. These are guides, not a checklist — if several feel well behind, a gentle developmental check is the kind next step.
Read the answer AnswerWhat Cognitive milestones should my 5-year-old have reached?
By age five most children count to ten and beyond, name colours and shapes, follow three-step instructions, enjoy rich pretend play, and answer "why" questions. These are typical signposts within a normal range, not a fixed checklist — steady progress matters most, and a gentle developmental check helps if several are not yet emerging.
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