According to the American Academy of Pediatricians, 12 to 16 percent of American children have some type of behavioral or developmental disorder. If a problem is suspected, developmental testing may help pinpoint a problem area and if necessary a more detailed assessment may be performed. Early-intervention services are readily available for young children who are developmentally delayed.
Types
Different developmental tests or screenings address different areas. For instance, a screening might be geared to check for a specific disability such as autism, or to check an area of development such as language, motor skills or cognitive abilities. It also might be used to test in multiple areas or general development all at once. Some are more about a child's abilities, while others check achievement levels or the skills already mastered.
Time Frame
Different tests are geared to different ages. For instance, the Ages and Stages Questionnaire is for children aged 4 months to 5 years. The Denver Developmental Screening Test II is for ages 1 month to 6 years. The Parents Evaluations of Developmental Status is for up to age 8. It's important to find the right testing instrument for the right age to get accurate results.
Prevention/Solution
The American Academy of Pediatricians recommends regular routine screenings for developmental delays for all infants and young children as part of a normal health care regimen. Early identification and intervention can lessen the impact of the problem on the child and the family. Because children develop at their own pace and often in spurts, regular routine screenings are important to gather the most accurate picture of a child's overall developmental progress.
Features
Child developmental screenings or tests have different strengths and weaknesses. For example, the Ages and Stages Questionnaire relies solely on parents' assessments of the child and does not require observation by a physician or child professional. According to the Michigan Department of Education, the Denver Developmental Screening Test II, while easily and quickly performed, has low sensitivity in picking up later developmental delays. The Early Screening Inventory-Revised or ESI-R is considered accurate, having been standardized and validated on 6,000 children and accurately identifying 9 out of 10 at-risk students. However, it requires a tester to be skilled in child development, and it is used only for children aged 3 to 6.
Misconceptions
Some people may assume that developmental testing for young children will catch all delays or problems, or conversely may think there are no reliable tests for young children and infants. In fact, the range of detection with most tests is in the 70 percent range. While they may not detect all problems, they are good tools and are not meant to be used in isolation or as one-time screenings. For reliable results, routine screenings should be done.
Tags: young children, routine screenings, Academy Pediatricians, Ages Stages, Ages Stages Questionnaire, American Academy, American Academy Pediatricians