ABA or Speech Therapy: Which Does My Autistic Child Need First?
Usually not either/or. The choice follows from one question: is the biggest barrier right now communication skill, or behaviour that blocks learning? How clinicians sequence the two — and when both run together.
My Child Avoids Eye Contact — Is It Autism?
Reduced eye contact alone is not autism — some children are simply shy or focused. It matters when it clusters with other signs: not pointing, not responding to name, few gestures. What to look at, and what to do.
My Child Doesn't Respond to Their Name — Should I Worry?
Most children respond consistently to their name by 12 months. If your child rarely turns when called, hearing and development should both be checked. What it can mean, what it doesn't prove, and what to do this week.
Do Boys Really Talk Later Than Girls?
On average, boys say first words slightly later — a difference of weeks, not many months. 'He's a boy, he'll talk when he's ready' becomes dangerous when it delays help past age 2. Where the truth ends and the myth begins.
Does Online Speech Therapy Actually Work for Kids?
Yes — for late talkers, unclear speech, and language delays, studies show online speech therapy produces outcomes equivalent to in-clinic sessions, and children often carry skills into daily life faster at home.
Extreme Picky Eater: Normal Phase or Sensory Issue?
Ordinary picky eating is a phase most children pass through. Eating fewer than ~20 foods, gagging at textures, distress when foods touch, or dropping foods without replacing them points to a sensory feeding difficulty that responds to OT.
How Long Until Child Therapy Shows Results?
Most families see the first real shifts in 4–8 weeks; solid, lasting gains take 3–6 months. What early progress actually looks like, honest timelines by therapy type, and the red flag of a plan that never changes.
Is It ADHD — or Is My Child Just Naughty?
Naughtiness is situational; ADHD is everywhere. The difference shows in whether a child CAN'T stay with a task across settings, or WON'T in specific ones. A paediatrician-reviewed guide to telling them apart.
Can a Child Have 'Mild' Autism? Level 1 Autism, Explained
Yes — clinicians call it Level 1 autism: real autistic differences with subtler support needs. Why it's often spotted late, what it looks like day to day, and why 'mild' doesn't mean 'no support needed'.
What Is the Right Age to Start ABA Therapy?
ABA therapy can start as early as age 2, and the evidence favours starting early — but it also helps school-age children and teenagers. What changes with age is the goals, not whether therapy works.
School Says My Child Can't Sit Still or Focus — What Now?
A teacher's complaint is data, not a diagnosis. The four-step path: get specifics, compare settings, rule out sleep and vision/hearing, then assess properly if the pattern holds everywhere. What to ask the school this week.
Speech Delay or Autism: How Can Parents Tell the Difference?
A speech delay affects how a child talks; autism also affects how a child connects — eye contact, gestures, shared attention. A paediatrician-reviewed guide to the differences, the overlap, and when to get an assessment.
Is Toe-Walking Normal in Children — or a Sign of Something?
Many toddlers toe-walk while learning to walk, and most outgrow it by around age 2–3. Persistent toe-walking, stiffness, or toe-walking alongside other developmental signs deserves a proper check. A calm guide to which is which.
Does My Child Need a Developmental Paediatrician?
Your regular paediatrician handles illness and growth. A developmental paediatrician specialises in HOW a child is developing — speech, social skills, attention, learning. When the referral makes sense, and what an assessment involves.
Why Does My Child Repeat Words Instead of Answering? (Echolalia)
Repeating words — echolalia — is a normal stage of language learning, and also common in autistic children, where it is often meaningful communication rather than 'just copying'. When it's typical, when to check, and how to respond.