{"h1":"Non-Verbal AbilityScore 500–600: Next Steps","faq":[{"a":"No. The band is a structured summary of current non-verbal communication skills, not a diagnosis. Any diagnosis is formed only at a Pinnacle Blooms Network centre under qualified clinician care, looking at the whole child.","q":"Does a Non-Verbal AbilityScore of 500–600 mean my child has a diagnosis?"},{"a":"It reflects pre-verbal and non-verbal communication — things like gestures, pointing, eye gaze, shared attention, turn-taking and using objects to communicate. These are the foundations that spoken language builds upon.","q":"What skills does the Non-Verbal AbilityScore look at?"},{"a":"Many children make meaningful progress with targeted support. A re-assessment after a period of therapy shows how the profile is shifting and lets the plan be adjusted to your child's needs.","q":"Can my child's band improve?"},{"a":"Often speech-language therapy focused on pre-verbal and non-verbal skills, sometimes alongside occupational therapy for the sensory and play skills that support communication. Your clinician recommends based on the full profile.","q":"What therapy usually helps with non-verbal communication?"}],"lang":"en","slug":"my-child-s-non-verbal-abilityscore-is-500-600-what-are-the-next-steps","title":"Non-Verbal AbilityScore 500–600 — Next Steps","entity":{"key":"non-verbal-toddler","kind":"ability","name":"Non-Verbal","slug":null},"lenses":[{"kind":"stakeholder","label":"Parent","value":"parent"},{"kind":"domain","label":"Communication","value":"communication"},{"kind":"intent","label":"Support","value":"support"},{"kind":"lifecycle","label":"Measure","value":"measure"},{"kind":"route","label":"Book-Assessment","value":"book-assessment"},{"kind":"score_band","label":"As 500 600","value":"as_500_600"},{"kind":"empowerment","label":"Early Clarity","value":"early_clarity"}],"parent":{"key":"abilities","label":"Abilities"},"related":[{"lang":"en","slug":"my-child-s-non-verbal-abilityscore-is-600-700-what-are-the-next-steps","title":"Non-Verbal AbilityScore 600–700 — Next Steps"},{"lang":"en","slug":"my-child-s-non-verbal-abilityscore-is-400-500-what-are-the-next-steps","title":"Non-Verbal AbilityScore 400–500 — Next Steps for Your Child"},{"lang":"en","slug":"my-child-s-non-verbal-abilityscore-is-900-1000-what-are-the-next-steps","title":"Non-Verbal AbilityScore 900–1000 — Next Steps"},{"lang":"en","slug":"my-child-s-non-verbal-abilityscore-is-200-300-what-are-the-next-steps","title":"Non-Verbal AbilityScore 200–300 — Next Steps"},{"lang":"en","slug":"my-child-s-non-verbal-abilityscore-is-300-400-what-are-the-next-steps","title":"Non-Verbal AbilityScore 300–400 — next steps"},{"lang":"en","slug":"my-child-s-non-verbal-abilityscore-is-100-200-what-are-the-next-steps","title":"My child's Non-Verbal AbilityScore is 100–200 — what are the next steps?"}],"summary":"A Non-Verbal AbilityScore band of 500–600 is a signpost showing where focused support on gestures, eye gaze, pointing and shared attention will help most — not a diagnosis. The next step is a clinician review of the full profile behind the band, followed by targeted speech and language therapy and daily home practice, with re-assessment to track progress. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.","answer_md":"*A number is never the whole story — it's a starting point that helps us build the right plan for your child's non-verbal communication.*\n\n## In short\nA Non-Verbal AbilityScore band of 500–600 is a **signpost, not a verdict** — it tells us where your child currently sits in skills like gestures, eye gaze, pointing, shared attention and using objects to communicate, and it points to where focused support will help most. The next step is a proper conversation with a Pinnacle clinician who can read the full profile behind that band and shape a plan around your child's exact strengths and needs. Many children make meaningful progress once that targeted support begins.\n\n## What this band tells us — and what to do next\nNon-verbal communication is the foundation that spoken language is built upon — the pointing, reaching, showing, eye contact and turn-taking a child uses *before and alongside* words. A 500–600 band suggests there are clear, supportable opportunities in these areas.\n\nYour practical next steps:\n- **Review the full profile, not just the band.** A single number summarises many skills. Your clinician will explain which specific areas — joint attention, gesture use, shared play — are driving the score, so support is precise.\n- **Begin targeted therapy if recommended.** Depending on the profile, this may be speech-language therapy focused on pre-verbal and non-verbal communication, often alongside occupational therapy for the sensory and play skills that support it.\n- **Build daily practice at home.** Small, repeatable moments — narrating play, pausing for your child to point or reach, following their gaze — turn everyday life into gentle communication practice.\n- **Track progress over time.** A re-assessment after a period of therapy shows how the band is shifting and lets the plan be tuned.\n\n## When to act sooner\nIf you also notice that your child rarely responds to their name, makes little eye contact, doesn't point or show you things to share interest, or has had any loss of skills they once had, mention this at your appointment so it can be looked at promptly within the wider developmental picture.\n\n## The Pinnacle way\nAbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional — never from an app, a band number alone or an online form. Across [Pinnacle Blooms Network](/), 700+ therapists draw on 25 million+ therapy sessions to turn a score into a personalised plan. Understand exactly [what the AbilityScore is and how it is read](/ask/what-is-the-abilityscore-and-how-is-it-calculated), and explore how [speech and language therapy](https://www.pinnacleblooms.org/top-speech-therapy-center-india-proven-improvement-rate) builds non-verbal and pre-verbal communication.\n\n## Trusted sources\nWHO ICD-11 framework for developmental communication; American Speech-Language-Hearing Association guidance on social and non-verbal communication; American Academy of Pediatrics (HealthyChildren.org) developmental milestone guidance.\n\n**Next step —** Want to know what's behind your child's band? [Book an AbilityScore review with a Pinnacle clinician](https://www.pinnacleblooms.org/top-speech-therapy-center-india-proven-improvement-rate).\n\nThis is general information, not a diagnosis — individual assessment and diagnosis require an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.","canonical":"https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/my-child-s-non-verbal-abilityscore-is-500-600-what-are-the-next-steps","editorial":{"reviewed_at":"2026-06-11T20:12:18.613642+00:00","reviewed_by":null,"developed_by":"SETU Consortium · Pinnacle Blooms Network"},"alternates":[{"href":"https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/my-child-s-non-verbal-abilityscore-is-500-600-what-are-the-next-steps","lang":"en","indexable":true}],"dimensions":[{"key":"abilities","label":"Abilities"}],"meta_title":"Non-Verbal AbilityScore 500–600: Next Steps","meta_robots":"index, follow, max-image-preview:large","everyday_tip":"During play, pause and wait expectantly — hold a favourite toy near your eyes, look at your child, and give them a moment to point, reach or look back before you respond. These tiny pauses invite non-verbal communication.","published_at":"2026-06-10T11:42:00.174877+00:00","reading_paths":[{"key":"understand","items":[{"lang":"en","slug":"what-is-non-verbal-in-child-development","title":"What is Non-Verbal in child development?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-does-non-verbal-represent-developmentally-and-when-is-a-delay-in-it-clinically-significant","title":"What Non-Verbal Communication Represents and When Delay Is Significant","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"which-icf-functioning-domain-does-non-verbal-map-to-in-early-childhood","title":"Which ICF functioning domain does Non-Verbal map to in early childhood?","reason":"Same topic"}],"label":"Understand the subject","total":3},{"key":"signs","items":[{"lang":"en","slug":"what-does-a-delay-in-non-verbal-mean-for-my-child","title":"What does a delay in Non-Verbal mean for my child?","reason":"Same topic"}],"label":"Recognise signs & 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Learn what the band means, the next steps in support, and how a Pinnacle clinician shapes the plan.","related_materials":[],"related_techniques":[]}