ASHA was not involved in the changes made to language milestones at the CDC, because of this, speech pathologists were concerned about the low bar set for language skills. Moving the milestone from pointing to two body parts, blowing a kiss, and shaking head, yes and no from 12 months to 24 months, seems worrisome. Dr. Cheryl Tierney shares my concern but notes for parents and professionals that this is still surveillance and not the concrete milestone expectation. Parents with concerns should speak up right away and not wait until well-checks if they have worries about their child’s development.
As professionals, we are always looking for new research and evolution in the field. The goal behind these changes was to provide more clear guidance for pediatricians and hopefully see fewer children slip through these cracks. As professionals voice their concerns, it is proof that more research and more literature is needed so we can continue to update and make the needed changes. If you are a parent with concerns about your child’s development, please do not wait, speak up because that is the most important tool you have.
Cheryl Tierney-Aves, MD, MPH is a Board-Certified behavior and developmental pediatrician who has been in practice since 2002. She is a native of Brooklyn, New York, and completed medical school at Tufts University in Boston. Her pediatric residency was at Levine Children’s Hospital at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. She completed Fellowships in Health Services Research, where she received her MPH at Harvard School of Public Health as well as Behavior and Developmental Pediatrics in 2002. After 8 years on faculty at Tuft’s Baystate Children’s Hospital, she was recruited to Penn State Children’s Hospital in 2010. Dr. Tierney-Aves is a Professor of Pediatrics in the Department of Developmental Medicine. She is an active member of The Society for Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics (SDBP) including its Advocacy Committee. Dr. Tierney is the President and founder of the ABA in PA Initiative, which is a grassroots advocacy group whose mission is to improve access and quality of ABA services in Pennsylvania. Her practice specializes in speech and language disorders to include autism and childhood apraxia of speech as well as pediatric behavioral sleep disorders.
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