# Should My Child Have a CDI Assessment? Canonical: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/should-my-child-have-a-cdi-assessment-and-what-does-it-involve Publisher: Pinnacle Blooms Network / Bharath Healthcare Laboratories Private Limited The MacArthur–Bates CDI is a parent-completed checklist of the words, gestures and early sentences your child understands and uses, usually for ages 8–30 months. It is gentle, non-invasive and based on what you see at home, taking 20–40 minutes. Whether your child should have one depends on your concerns and age — a Pinnacle clinician can confirm if it's the right fit and combines it with a clinician-administered assessment, never a label. *Wondering whether a CDI could help you understand your little one's words and gestures? Here's exactly what it is and when it helps.* ## In short The [MacArthur–Bates Communicative Development Inventories (CDI)](/cdi) is a parent-completed checklist that captures how your young child understands and uses words, gestures and early sentences — usually between about 8 and 30 months. It's gentle, non-invasive and based entirely on what *you* already see at home, so there's no testing pressure on your child. Whether your child *should* have one depends on your concerns and age, and a Pinnacle clinician can confirm if it's the right fit. ## What a CDI involves There are no needles, no scary rooms and no pass-or-fail for your child. Instead: - **You're the expert.** You tick off the words your child understands and says, and the gestures they use — pointing, waving, pretend play — from a structured list. - **It fits your child's age.** One form focuses on *Words & Gestures* for younger babies and toddlers; another covers *Words & Sentences* as language grows. - **It takes 20–40 minutes** and can be revisited over time to show how vocabulary is expanding. - **It's a snapshot, not a label.** It gives the clinician a rich picture of your child's communication to combine with other observations. Because it draws on everyday moments rather than a one-off test, the CDI often captures words your child uses with you that they might not show a stranger. ## When it helps — and when to ask A CDI is most useful if you've noticed your child is slower to babble, say first words, or combine words, or if you simply want a clear baseline. It is one piece of a fuller developmental check, not a diagnosis on its own. If your child has lost words they once had, isn't responding to their name, or you have any worry, bring it to a clinician promptly rather than waiting. ## The Pinnacle way A clinical AbilityScore® and any diagnosis are formed only at a Pinnacle Blooms Network centre, under the care of a qualified clinician — never from a form or an online figure. Our clinicians use parent-report tools like the CDI alongside a clinician-administered structured assessment to understand your child's whole communication picture, then turn it into practical [speech therapy](/speech-therapy) you can use at home. Backed by 2.5 billion+ data points and 25 million+ therapy sessions across 70+ centres, we make small gains visible. You can read how our measure works here: [what the AbilityScore is and how it's calculated](/ask/what-is-the-abilityscore-and-how-is-it-calculated). ## Trusted sources ASHA guidance on early language assessment and parent-report measures; CDC and HealthyChildren (AAP) milestones for early communication and vocabulary; WHO frameworks for developmental language difficulties. **Next step —** Not sure if a CDI is right for your child? [Book an assessment](/enroll) with a Pinnacle clinician and get a clear, reassuring plan. This is general information, not a diagnosis — individual assessment and diagnosis require an appropriately qualified healthcare professional. ## Sources - ASHA: early speech and language development: https://www.asha.org/public/speech/development/ - CDC: developmental milestones: https://www.cdc.gov/child-development - HealthyChildren (AAP): toddler communication: https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/toddler/Pages/default.aspx ## Connected topics and perspectives - Assessments: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/assessments - Parent: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/stakeholder/parent - Assessment: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/intent/assessment - Measure: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/lifecycle/measure - Screen: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/route/screen - Early Clarity: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/empowerment/early_clarity ## Related question paths ### Understand the subject - What is the MacArthur–Bates Communicative Development Inventories (CDI)?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-is-the-macarthur-bates-communicative-development-inventories-cdi-and-what-does-it-assess - At What Age Is the CDI Used for a Child?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/at-what-age-is-the-cdi-developmental-assessment-used-for-a-child ### Understand assessment - When the CDI Is Indicated: Strengths and Limits in Early Childhood: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/when-is-the-cdi-indicated-and-what-are-its-strengths-and-limits-in-early-childhood - How does the CDI compare with the AbilityScore developmental assessment?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-does-the-cdi-compare-with-the-abilityscore-developmental-assessment - Should my child have a DAYC-2 assessment, and what does it involve?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/should-my-child-have-a-dayc-2-assessment-and-what-does-it-involve - Should My Child Have an ADI-R Assessment?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/should-my-child-have-a-adi-r-assessment-and-what-does-it-involve