AbilityScore 600–700 with a Non-Verbal Presentation: What to Do Next

An AbilityScore in the 600–700 band is not a verdict — it's a starting line, and a hopeful one.

In short

An AbilityScore® in the 600–700 band for a child with a non-verbal or minimally verbal presentation gives you a structured picture of where your child is right now across communication, play, attention and daily skills. It is a baseline, not a ceiling — and the next step is clear: turn it into a personalised therapy plan built around your child's own strengths. With the right support, many minimally verbal children grow their communication in steady, real-life steps.

What this band tells you

Think of the score as a map, not a label. In this band, your child is likely showing real foundations to build on — intent to communicate through gestures, sounds, eye contact or leading you by the hand — alongside areas that need targeted help.

• Communication is more than speech. Pointing, signs, picture exchange and AAC (augmentative and alternative communication) are all genuine communication, and they often unlock spoken words rather than replacing them.
• The plan follows the child. The same band can look different in two children, so the therapy mix — speech-language therapy, play-based work, occupational therapy for sensory and attention needs — is shaped to your child specifically.
• Small wins are the real measure. A new gesture, a first reliable "yes/no", a word approximation, a calmer transition — these are the signals that the plan is working.

What to do next

1. Sit down with your clinician to read the AbilityScore® together and agree on the first two or three communication goals.
2. Start consistent therapy — frequency and follow-through at home matter more than intensity in bursts.
3. Re-measure on schedule so progress is compared to your child's own baseline, not to other children.

The Pinnacle way

Developmental measurement supports care planning; diagnosis requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional., under the care of a qualified clinician — never from an online number alone. Across 70+ centres in 4 states, 700+ therapists, 25 million+ therapy sessions and 4.95 lakh+ families served, our approach is the same: build on what your child can do. Begin with speech and communication therapy, understand the measure itself in how the AbilityScore is calculated, and explore the full picture of a non-verbal or minimally verbal presentation.

Trusted sources

WHO ICD-11 framework for developmental speech and language disorders; American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) on AAC and minimally verbal children; American Academy of Pediatrics developmental guidance.

Next step — Turn the number into a plan. Book an assessment review with a Pinnacle speech-language pathologist to set your child's first communication goals.

This is general information, not a diagnosis — individual assessment and diagnosis require an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.