Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory
Should my child have a PEDI assessment?
The PEDI is a clinician-administered assessment of a child's everyday functional skills — self-care, mobility and social function — capturing both what your child can do and how much help they need, not intelligence or a diagnosis. It is most useful for setting a clear baseline and tracking progress over time. Whether it suits your child is decided with your Pinnacle clinician, and any diagnosis is formed only at a centre under qualified care.
Wondering if the PEDI is right for your child — and what a session actually looks like? Here's the plain-language picture.
In short
The Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory (PEDI) is a well-respected, clinician-administered assessment of how your child manages everyday functional skills — self-care, getting around, and joining in daily life — rather than a test of intelligence or a diagnosis. It is most useful when you and the team want a clear baseline of what your child can do day-to-day and how much help they currently need, so progress can be tracked over time. Whether it is the right fit for your child is a decision your Pinnacle clinician makes with you, based on your child's age, profile and goals.What the PEDI involves
The PEDI looks at function across three practical areas:- Self-care — dressing, eating, bathing, toileting and other daily routines.
- Mobility — moving around the home, transfers, stairs and getting from place to place.
- Social function — communication, play, problem-solving and joining in with others.
For each area the assessment captures two things: what your child can do (their functional skills) and how much caregiver help they currently need to do it. It is gathered through structured questions and observation, often with your input as the parent — you know your child's daily routines best, so your account is genuinely valuable. There are no pass/fail marks and nothing is timed against other children; the focus is your child's real-life capability and the support around it.
When it helps and when to ask
The PEDI is especially helpful when a child has a developmental, physical or neurological condition affecting daily function, or when a team wants to measure change after a period of therapy. Because it captures both ability and the help needed, re-doing it later shows whether your child is becoming more independent. If your main worry is a specific area — speech, movement, or behaviour — your clinician may pair the PEDI with a more focused assessment. Ask the team how the results will translate into everyday goals at home and school.The Pinnacle way
A clinical AbilityScore® and any diagnosis are formed only at a Pinnacle Blooms Network centre, under the care of a qualified clinician — never from a form or an online figure. Our clinicians use validated instruments like the PEDI alongside our own clinician-administered AbilityScore® to map your child against their own baseline, then turn that into a practical plan. Backed by 2.5 billion+ data points and 25 million+ therapy sessions across 70+ centres, the team links findings to hands-on occupational therapy for daily-living skills, so every gain shows up in real life.Trusted sources
WHO ICD-11 framework for functioning and disability; CDC and HealthyChildren (AAP) guidance on developmental and functional milestones; ASHA guidance on functional assessment and progress monitoring.Next step — Find out whether the PEDI suits your child. Book an assessment with a Pinnacle clinician and get a clear, re-measurable plan for everyday skills.
This is general information, not a diagnosis — a clinical AbilityScore® and any diagnosis are formed only at a Pinnacle Blooms Network centre under qualified clinician care.
What to watch
Watch how much daily help your child needs over time — dressing, feeding, moving around, joining in play. If you notice them doing more independently, or if progress seems to stall, mention it to the team so the assessment can be repeated and goals adjusted.
Try this at home
Pick one daily routine — say, putting on shoes — and let your child attempt the next small step themselves before you step in. Note what they manage alone; these everyday observations are exactly what the PEDI captures and help your clinician set realistic goals.
Trusted sources
Developed by SETU Consortium · Pinnacle Blooms Network · Last reviewed 2026-06-10 · reviewed every 365 days
This is general information, not a diagnosis. A clinical AbilityScore® and any diagnosis are formed only at a Pinnacle Blooms Network centre, under qualified clinician care.
Frequently asked
Is the PEDI a test my child can pass or fail?
No. The PEDI has no pass or fail. It describes what your child can do in everyday life and how much help they currently need, so the team can set realistic goals and track progress over time.
Will I be involved in the PEDI assessment?
Often, yes. Because the PEDI is about your child's real daily routines, your account as the parent is valuable. The clinician combines your input with structured questions and observation.
Does a PEDI assessment give a diagnosis?
No. The PEDI measures everyday function, not a diagnosis. At Pinnacle, any diagnosis and a clinical AbilityScore® are formed only at a centre under qualified clinician care.