It’s a natural desire to want the best for your child. And comparing them to other children their age or their siblings is also natural. When you have a child who is developing differently than their peers, it is normal to talk and seek advice from friends, family, or teachers. What many may say with good intention, is ‘Don’t worry.’ They may back up their ‘don’t worry’ with an anecdote about a young child who didn’t speak until they were three, and are now a successful professional.

While saying ‘don’t worry’ is a nice thought, it doesn’t actually stop you from wondering if your child needs help. Unless one of these individuals is a professional therapist, they do not have an expert opinion. If you are concerned that your child’s development is behind, take action. Here are two simple steps you can take. Note, none of them are to be worried!

1. Speak to your child’s primary care provider and ask for a referral to an expert, like a speech-language pathologist, occupational therapist or physical therapist.

2. Call a pediatric clinic and schedule and evaluation for your child. Medicaid and most insurances cover evaluations, and Chatterbox provides an out of pocket estimate before evaluations.

After an evaluation, you’ll receive a full report on your child’s areas of strengths and weaknesses, and you’ll have the information you need to make an informed decision about your child. Some children will be fine if they don’t receive intervention. Some children need a short amount of intervention, and some children need a more comprehensive plan to succeed. Scheduling an evaluation with an expert will truly put your mind at ease so you can stop wondering if your child needs support. If the expert finds that your child does not need therapy or intervention, great! If the expert finds that your child can benefit from intervention, then great! You’ve come to the right place, where we are proud to help every child reach their full potential.