Screening tools aid in the early detection of developmental disabilities.
Many parenting forums today are frequented by parents seeking information on whether or not their child is developing appropriately and achieving age level milestones. According to the Center for Disease Control in 2005, "17 percent of children have a developmental or behavioral disability such as autism, intellectual disabilities, and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. In addition, many children have delays in language or other areas, which also impact school readiness." Unfortunately less than 50 percent of these children are identified prior to starting school.
Benefits
Screening tools are designed to aid in the early identification of children who are at risk for developing developmental delays. It is believed that children who receive intervention services as early as possible, during vital developmental years, reap the most benefits. Screening tools assess children in the areas of cognitive skills, language skills, gross motor and fine motor skills, and personal social skills. Screening tools are also available to assess for specific disorders such as autism.
Barriers and Warnings
According to a study performed by the American Academy of Pediatrics in 2000, almost 65 percent of pediatricians felt they had inadequate training and insufficient time to perform developmental assessments. However in the years since this study, the training available for doctors on perform developmental assessments has increased. It is good to be aware that screening tools are not meant to diagnose a child. If red flags arise during an assessment a more in depth evaluation should be performed.
Types
Fortunately there are several screening tools now available and they are becoming more refined each year. The most common screening used by pediatricians is the Ages and Stages Questionnaire, which is filled out by parents at regular well-baby checks. In 2009 the NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale became available. It is a comprehensive assessment for substance-exposed infants and infants at high risk for disability due to prematurity. The Early Childhood Screening is often used in school districts to assess children between the ages of three and five.
Administers of Screening Tools
Developmental screenings are performed by various professionals in the healthcare setting including physicians, nurses, psychologists and therapists. Screenings are also performed by social workers and professionals through school districts. The most frequent assessments are performed through well-baby checks with a pediatrician, as they are now recommended by both the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Neurology.
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