Publication of the Hall report has prompted many health authorities to cut back on the range of routine child health screening programmes. In some areas health visitors are playing a less central role in child health surveillance. James Law and Carrie Pollard argue the need for routine screening of all children for speech and language delay, and that health visitors--with more adequate specialist training--should carry out these checks. Problems may persist for many years if not tackled in the pre-school years, they warn.