A first step toward getting help for your child when you are concerned about his or her development (how your child plays, learns, speaks, acts, and moves) is to talk with your child’s doctor.
How to Talk with the Doctor
Here are some tips for talking with your child’s doctor:
Prepare for your visit.
1. When you make the appointment, tell the doctor’s staff you have
concerns about your child’s development that you want to discuss.
2. Write down your questions, concerns, and some examples; take these
to the appointment.
3. Fill out a milestones checklist for your child’s age from
www.cdc.gov/milestones and take it with you to share with the doctor.
4. Have other adults who know your child well fill out a milestone
checklist, too.
5 If you can, take another adult with you to play with your child so you
can better focus on what the doctor says.
Ask all of your questions during the visit; you know your
child best and your concerns are important!
1. Tell the doctor you have concerns at the start of the visit and share the
milestones checklist and any questions you might have written down.
2. If the doctor seems to be in a hurry, ask if you should schedule
another visit.
3. Ask about your child’s most recent developmental screening results.
If a screening has not been done, ask for one. For information about
developmental screening, go to www.cdc.gov/devscreening.
4. Take notes to help you remember what the doctor says and what to
do next.
Make sure you understand what the doctor says and
what to do next.
1. Before you leave, make sure all of your questions have been answered.
2. If you do not understand something, ask the doctor to explain it again
or in a different way.
3. Review your notes and ask the doctor, nurse, or office staff for any
information you will need to do what the doctor has told you. For
example, “What is the phone number for my local early intervention
program?”
4. When you get home, review your notes and call the doctor’s office if
you have any questions.
5. Take the steps the doctor has told you and remember to follow up with
the doctor about how it went.