Knowing when to act
Every child develops at their own pace, but some signs suggest a child aged two or older may benefit from extra support or a developmental screening. This guide can help you decide what to do next.
If you notice several of the signs below, especially if they last for months or affect your child’s wellbeing, learning or friendships, talk to your GP or contact our team. Early support can make a real difference, and you do not need a diagnosis to start.
Signs to look out for
Social and emotional
- Meltdowns after school, which can be linked to masking
- Exhaustion after social contact
- Difficulty making or keeping friends
- Rarely sharing interests or experiences
- Intense emotional reactions or trouble naming feelings
- Withdrawal, or difficulty with transitions
- Limited imaginative play
Communication and language
- Difficulty with back-and-forth conversation
- Trouble with jokes, sarcasm and idioms
- Few gestures or facial expressions
- Missing social cues
- Losing words or skills they had before
- Unusual speech patterns or echolalia (repeating words)
Thinking and learning
- Difficulty with flexible thinking
- A strong need for routine
- Trouble using skills in new settings
- Uneven skill development
- Difficulty with abstract ideas
- Intense, narrow interests
Movement and senses
- Clumsiness or poor coordination
- Fine or gross motor difficulties
- Being over- or under-sensitive to sound, touch, taste or light
- Repetitive movements (stimming)
This is general guidance, not a diagnosis. Many children show some of these signs at times.
What you can do next
- 01
Talk to your GP
Your GP can screen, give advice and refer you to the right specialists.
- 02
Book an initial consultation
Our psychologists and allied health team specialise in child development, neurodivergence and NDIS early childhood support.
- 03
Screening or assessment
If helpful, we offer developmental screening and autism, ADHD and other assessments.
- 04
A plan that fits
Tailored therapy, including support for masking and social challenges, and help accessing NDIS funding.
Questions
When should I get my child assessed?
If you notice signs across several areas, they last for months, or they affect your child’s wellbeing, learning or friendships, it is worth talking to a professional. You do not need to wait for a diagnosis to get support.
Who should I talk to first?
Your GP is a good first step. They can screen, give initial advice and refer you to specialists. You can also call our intake team directly on (03) 8104 9051.
Can the NDIS help?
Children under 9 with developmental concerns may be able to access support through the NDIS early childhood approach, often without a diagnosis. We can guide you through it.
Not sure where to start?
Tell our intake team what you are noticing. We will match your child with the right clinician, or a small team if they need more than one kind of support.