18 months checkup
The 18-month checkup: what to expect and what to ask
Eighteen months is a screening visit, and one of the two where autism screening is specifically recommended.
Almost nobody explains that in advance, which is why it lands as a surprise.
What this visit usually covers
- A developmental screening plus a specific autism screening — usually a short parent questionnaire.
- Growth, physical exam and immunisations.
- Language: a growing vocabulary, following instructions, pointing to show as well as to ask.
- Behaviour, sleep and eating.
Worth asking
Take this in with you. The appointment moves faster than you expect, and the specific question gets a specific answer.
- What did the autism screening show, and what does a positive or borderline result actually mean? A flag is a reason to look further, not a diagnosis.
- If anything was flagged, who do we see next and how long is that wait?
- She has few words — how concerned should we be, and is a hearing check worth doing first?
- Hitting and biting have started. Is this the age, and what actually helps?
A hearing check comes before a speech referral more often than people expect — intermittent hearing loss from middle-ear fluid is common and easy to miss.
Where this comes from
Schedules vary by practice and by country, and yours may cover more or less than this. It is a companion for the appointment, not a substitute for it — the person in the room can see your child, and this page can't.