• Physical and sensory needs

• Communication and Interaction

• Emotional and Social

• Cognition and Learning

Click here to find out more (Developmnetal Milestones By Age)

1. Sensory Differences

   e.g. A strong dislike of certain sounds (hand dryers are a common one) / Differences with touch preference (may not be a “cuddly” child and dislike unexpected contact; or may need extra firm and frequent touch input)

2. Social and Communication Differences

   e.g. Seem overly clingy at social events; or become overly hyperactive and disruptive / May miss subtle social cues from other children / Social anxiety and situational mutism that goes past “being shy”

3. Emotional Regulation and Meltdowns

   e.g. Frequent meltdowns after school/nursery (“restraint collapse”, where child holds it together all day and lets go at home) / Biting, head-banging, and lashing out when upset / Low frustration tolerance: not coping well with losing games or getting things wrong

4. Routines, Rigidity, and Repetition

   e.g. Wanting to watch/read the same thing repeatedly; repeating phrases and “ear worms” / May make repeated movements that seem to express joy or self-soothe (pacing, skin picking, rubbing hands, many others – this is called “stimming”) / Become easily dysregulated if things change; struggle to move between one activity/place/season to the next

5. Attention Differences

   e.g. Can focus well on things they are interested in, but struggle to pay attention to other tasks, easily distracted / May not always respond to their name; others may question their hearing / Struggle to follow more than one instruction step at a time; problems “listening”, difficulty keeping on track

6. Impulsivity and Hyperactivity

   e.g. May talk faster, louder, more often, and interrupts / Can make lots of little noises while playing or concentrating / Fidgets and appears restless when asked to sit still

7. Strengths to Watch For

   e.g. Advanced vocabulary, using “grown-up” language, sounding wise beyond their years / Amazing attention to detail (noticing things others miss) and strong memory for small or unusual things, even from a young age / General ability to “think outside the box” – to see things differently

8. Other “Clues” to Neurodivergence

   e.g. Going outside without proper clothing (not realising when cold due to interoception differences) / Needing constant parental attention (finding it hard to play independently, or no amount of attention seems to “fill them up”) / Tends to make friends most easily with other children who are or appear neurodivergent

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