Knowledge Center
Stage One
Noticing the First Signal
Stage Two
Understanding Diagnosis — Step by Step
Stage Three
Adjustment and Psychological Support
Stage Four
Addressing Disability by Type
Stage Five
Yours and Your Child’s Rights in Society
Stage One: Noticing the First Signal
The stage of noticing the first signal is the cornerstone of a family’s journey to understand their child’s developmental needs — it is the stage that can make the biggest difference in the child’s long-term life trajectory. During the first three years of life the brain is at a peak of neurodevelopment: neural connections form rapidly, making this period the most sensitive for early intervention. Scientific evidence indicates that any delay in detecting developmental signs during this period may result in missed opportunities to improve developmental, learning, and behavioural outcomes.
This stage often begins with simple parental observations, such as a difference in interaction style, delayed speech, or behaviours that seem atypical for the child’s age. These changes may not be alarming at first, but when they recur or persist their significance increases — and parental awareness and understanding of these signals becomes the indispensable first step in the early-detection pathway.
Understanding typical development
Early detection fundamentally depends on parents’ knowledge of age-expected milestones. Child development does not occur randomly; it follows clear, interconnected developmental pathways, including:
Social communication and interaction: such as smiling, eye contact, responding to one’s name, and emotional engagement
Language and speech: development of sounds, words, then simple phrases
Gross motor skills: sitting, standing, walking, and balance
Fine motor skills: grasping objects, hand–eye coordination, finger use
Cognitive skills: attention, problem-solving, imitation, and purposeful play
When a clear delay or persistent gap appears in any of these domains, it should be treated as an initial signal warranting evaluation — not necessarily a diagnosis, but an early alert that should not be ignored.
Early signs to watch for
Recent research (e.g., CDC) identifies several signs that are among the strongest early indicators of possible developmental delay or neurodevelopmental disorder, including:
Social communication
No social smiling by 2–3 months
Lack of or reduced eye contact
No imitation of movements or sounds
Not pointing to request by age 1 year
Language and speech
No cooing or vocalizing by 6 months
No meaningful words by 12 months
No simple phrases by 24 months
Loss of previously acquired words or language skills
Behaviour and restricted interests
Excessive fixation on objects or a single play pattern
Repetitive behaviours such as hand flapping or spinning
Hyper- or hyposensitivity to sounds or touch
Apparent lack of response to surroundings despite obvious stimuli
Motor skills
Inability to sit by 9 months
No crawling by 12 months
Not walking by 18 months
Poor balance or difficulty using hands in a coordinated way
Parents’ role in noticing first signals
Parents are the primary and most important partners in early detection. The World Health Organization (WHO) emphasizes that parents’ observations and instincts are often accurate, especially regarding unusual changes in a child’s behaviour. Accordingly, parents are advised to:
Keep daily notes: Record worrisome behaviours, the time they appeared, and how often they occur.
Document behaviour on video: This helps specialists observe the child in their natural environment, away from clinic pressure.
Use early screening tools: For example, the M-CHAT-R/F for early signs of autism — https://mchatscreen.com.
Do not ignore loss of acquired skills:Loss of a previously learned skill is among the strongest indicators that warrant specialist evaluation.
Why early detection matters
Scientific studies show that early intervention produces tangible benefits, including:
Improving communication skills by approximately 40%–60%.
Reducing the development of negative behaviours.
Increasing opportunities for inclusion in mainstream education.
Reducing psychological stress on the family.
Enhancing long-term independence and quality of life.
The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) characterizes the first three years as a “golden window” for intervention — a window that cannot later be compensated for with the same effectiveness.
What families should do if they notice signs
If developmental indicators are suspected, families should follow clear steps:
Do not wait — delay can reduce chances of improvement
Consult the paediatrician as a first step
Request an official developmental assessment from accredited specialists
Refer to reliable scientific sources to understand the child’s condition
Attend to family psychosocial support— this journey requires patience, partnership, and ongoing support
Stage One
Noticing the First Signal
Stage Two
Understanding Diagnosis — Step by Step
Stage Three
Adjustment and Psychological Support
Stage Four
Addressing Disability by Type
Stage Five
Yours and Your Child’s Rights in Society
Stage One: Noticing the First Signal
The stage of noticing the first signal is the cornerstone of a family’s journey to understand their child’s developmental needs — it is the stage that can make the biggest difference in the child’s long-term life trajectory. During the first three years of life the brain is at a peak of neurodevelopment: neural connections form rapidly, making this period the most sensitive for early intervention. Scientific evidence indicates that any delay in detecting developmental signs during this period may result in missed opportunities to improve developmental, learning, and behavioural outcomes.
This stage often begins with simple parental observations, such as a difference in interaction style, delayed speech, or behaviours that seem atypical for the child’s age. These changes may not be alarming at first, but when they recur or persist their significance increases — and parental awareness and understanding of these signals becomes the indispensable first step in the early-detection pathway.
Understanding typical development
Early detection fundamentally depends on parents’ knowledge of age-expected milestones. Child development does not occur randomly; it follows clear, interconnected developmental pathways, including:
Social communication and interaction: such as smiling, eye contact, responding to one’s name, and emotional engagement
Language and speech: development of sounds, words, then simple phrases
Gross motor skills: sitting, standing, walking, and balance
Fine motor skills: grasping objects, hand–eye coordination, finger use
Cognitive skills: attention, problem-solving, imitation, and purposeful play
When a clear delay or persistent gap appears in any of these domains, it should be treated as an initial signal warranting evaluation — not necessarily a diagnosis, but an early alert that should not be ignored.
Early signs to watch for
Recent research (e.g., CDC) identifies several signs that are among the strongest early indicators of possible developmental delay or neurodevelopmental disorder, including:
Social communication
No social smiling by 2–3 months
Lack of or reduced eye contact
No imitation of movements or sounds
Not pointing to request by age 1 year
Language and speech
No cooing or vocalizing by 6 months
No meaningful words by 12 months
No simple phrases by 24 months
Loss of previously acquired words or language skills
Behaviour and restricted interests
Excessive fixation on objects or a single play pattern
Repetitive behaviours such as hand flapping or spinning
Hyper- or hyposensitivity to sounds or touch
Apparent lack of response to surroundings despite obvious stimuli
Motor skills
Inability to sit by 9 months
No crawling by 12 months
Not walking by 18 months
Poor balance or difficulty using hands in a coordinated way
Parents’ role in noticing first signals
Parents are the primary and most important partners in early detection. The World Health Organization (WHO) emphasizes that parents’ observations and instincts are often accurate, especially regarding unusual changes in a child’s behaviour. Accordingly, parents are advised to:
Keep daily notes: Record worrisome behaviours, the time they appeared, and how often they occur.
Document behaviour on video: This helps specialists observe the child in their natural environment, away from clinic pressure.
Use early screening tools: For example, the M-CHAT-R/F for early signs of autism — https://mchatscreen.com.
Do not ignore loss of acquired skills:Loss of a previously learned skill is among the strongest indicators that warrant specialist evaluation.
Why early detection matters
Scientific studies show that early intervention produces tangible benefits, including:
Improving communication skills by approximately 40%–60%.
Reducing the development of negative behaviours.
Increasing opportunities for inclusion in mainstream education.
Reducing psychological stress on the family.
Enhancing long-term independence and quality of life.
The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) characterizes the first three years as a “golden window” for intervention — a window that cannot later be compensated for with the same effectiveness.
What families should do if they notice signs
If developmental indicators are suspected, families should follow clear steps:
Do not wait — delay can reduce chances of improvement
Consult the paediatrician as a first step
Request an official developmental assessment from accredited specialists
Refer to reliable scientific sources to understand the child’s condition
Attend to family psychosocial support— this journey requires patience, partnership, and ongoing support
© 2025 Zayed Authority for People of Determination All Rights Reserved
© 2025 Zayed Authority for People of Determination All Rights Reserved
© 2025 Zayed Authority for People of Determination All Rights Reserved