Autism screenings and well-child visits

Autism screenings and well-child visits (often called a “well-child,” “check up,” or “well-check”) are part of your child’s preventative health care. These visits happen when your child isn’t sick. The purpose of a well-child visit is to check in on your child’s developmental progress (are they hitting important milestones?) and just in general make sure your child is feeling good. These visits are the perfect time to ask the doctor any questions about your child’s health or express concerns you may have.

How to prepare for your well-child visit and autism screening

1. Schedule well-child visits with your pediatrician.

Write down a list of questions to have ready for each visit. Jot down any health concerns you may have, or things about your child’s development that worry you. For example, you may note that your child doesn’t seem interested in playing with other kids, isn’t speaking much, or that they tend to be clumsy and hurt themselves. Here is AAP's recommended well-child visit schedule.

2. Track your child’s development.

Use the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Milestone Tracker App to identify specific areas where your child may be meeting or missing typical milestones. Bring the results to your well-child visits. This knowledge allows you and your pediatrician to understand what supports your child may need.

Every child will be different, and there is no “right” way or timeframe to grow. Milestones are based on what medical professionals consider to be “typical development” for children. It’s very common for children with developmental differences, like autism, to reach some milestones at different times than their peers, but that doesn’t mean they’re “behind” or broken. Think of these milestones more as general guidelines to help you spot areas your child may need help in, rather than a final judgment on their future. Detecting these areas early on, and getting your child the support they need, can make a big difference as your child grows up.

3. Ask your child's doctor for an autism screening. 

Most doctors will screen for autism nowadays, but not always. If your child's doctor doesn't bring up screening for autism, you can ask. Depending on if they follow AAP or NCBDD's schedule, your child's pediatrician will screen for autism before your child is 2 years old. You may answer a series of questions and have your child observed by their pediatrician and/or other trained professional. Here is our list of the best tests and screeners for autism.

4. Stay on top of immunizations.

Ensure your child is staying current on immunizations to help him or her avoid serious illnesses such as chicken pox, measles, mumps, polio and more. Follow the CDC Recommended Immunization Schedule and fill out the Immunization Tracker to make sure your child is up-to-date on immunizations.

Note: Vaccines DO NOT cause autism. Some children do have adverse reactions/side effects to routine vaccinations, but this is very rare. We debunk this, and more autism myths, in this article.

Conclusion

If you need more support and resources, set up a personalized step-by-step guide for free. The Beaming Health Action Plans were created with the help of over 100 parents, clinical professionals, special education advocates, and social workers to help families like yours.