At a glance
- Do not wait for a child to outgrow a concern. Ask for an assessment when speech, understanding, hearing, play or movement worries you.
- CDC milestone checklists help track skills and start a conversation. They do not diagnose a delay or autism and are not standardized, validated developmental screening tests.
- In US guidance, the AAP recommends general developmental screening at 9, 18 and 30 months and autism screening at 18 and 24 months. Concerns need attention at any age; do not wait for a scheduled screening visit. Local schedules may differ.
- Ask about a hearing assessment and a speech-language evaluation. Hearing difficulties can affect communication, even after a normal newborn hearing screen; a home response to sounds cannot replace a hearing test.
- Learning several languages does not cause a speech or language disorder. Keep using the languages your family knows best, and describe communication across all of them. Ask for an interpreter or assessment that considers every language the child uses.
- Ask for hearing, speech-language or broader developmental referrals as needed, and agree on a follow-up date. Evaluation and early support can start while the cause is being investigated; do not wait for a final diagnosis to ask for help.
Milestones, screening and assessment
CDC milestone checklists help track skills and start a conversation. They do not diagnose a delay or autism and are not standardized, validated developmental screening tests.
In US guidance, the AAP recommends general developmental screening at 9, 18 and 30 months and autism screening at 18 and 24 months. Concerns need attention at any age; do not wait for a scheduled screening visit. Local schedules may differ.
Speech, hearing and family languages
Ask about a hearing assessment and a speech-language evaluation. Hearing difficulties can affect communication, even after a normal newborn hearing screen; a home response to sounds cannot replace a hearing test.
Learning several languages does not cause a speech or language disorder. Keep using the languages your family knows best, and describe communication across all of them. Ask for an interpreter or assessment that considers every language the child uses.
How to request support
Ask for hearing, speech-language or broader developmental referrals as needed, and agree on a follow-up date. Evaluation and early support can start while the cause is being investigated; do not wait for a final diagnosis to ask for help.
In the United States, families can contact early intervention directly for a child younger than 3 years, or the local public school district from age 3 years to request an evaluation. A medical diagnosis or doctor’s referral is not required to make the request. Eligibility is assessed separately. Outside the US, ask about the local child-development or education service.
Prepare for the visit
Bring examples of what the child understands, says, gestures and does during play and daily routines, across home and childcare or school. Include strengths, concerns, languages used and when changes began. Ask other caregivers for observations without collecting identifying details here.
While waiting for appointments, share books, songs, play and everyday conversation in your family’s languages. Follow the child’s interests and allow time to respond. These activities support communication but do not replace assessment or prescribed therapy.
When changes are urgent
Get emergency care now for sudden new weakness or loss of ability to move or speak. Call the local emergency number for a new seizure, confusion, reduced responsiveness or difficulty waking the child. Do not delay help to complete these notes.
Contact the child’s clinician promptly if words, gestures, social responses or movement skills that the child used before disappear. Do not wait for the next routine visit or a finished diary. If the change is sudden or emergency signs are present, seek emergency help now.
Common questions
Should we wait to see whether speech catches up?
Do not wait for a child to outgrow a concern. Ask for an assessment when speech, understanding, hearing, play or movement worries you.
Does using more than one language cause a delay?
Learning several languages does not cause a speech or language disorder. Keep using the languages your family knows best, and describe communication across all of them. Ask for an interpreter or assessment that considers every language the child uses.
Can a milestone checklist diagnose autism?
CDC milestone checklists help track skills and start a conversation. They do not diagnose a delay or autism and are not standardized, validated developmental screening tests.
Why check hearing when the newborn test was normal?
Ask about a hearing assessment and a speech-language evaluation. Hearing difficulties can affect communication, even after a normal newborn hearing screen; a home response to sounds cannot replace a hearing test.
Do we need a diagnosis before requesting services?
In the United States, families can contact early intervention directly for a child younger than 3 years, or the local public school district from age 3 years to request an evaluation. A medical diagnosis or doctor’s referral is not required to make the request. Eligibility is assessed separately. Outside the US, ask about the local child-development or education service.
What if my child stops using words or other skills?
Contact the child’s clinician promptly if words, gestures, social responses or movement skills that the child used before disappear. Do not wait for the next routine visit or a finished diary. If the change is sudden or emergency signs are present, seek emergency help now.
Sources
- CDC — Acting on developmental concerns
- NIDCD — Speech and language development
- AAP and ASHA — Children learning multiple languages
- AAP — When to call emergency services
- AAP — New weakness and urgent assessment
Written for Pedemy in our own words from the sources above; checked October 2026. For education only, not medical advice. Pedemy is independent and not affiliated with or endorsed by the organizations cited.