|
Click
Here to see a list of previous articles
What
is developmental screening?
Developmental screening is a procedure designed to identify children who
should receive more intensive assessment or diagnosis, for potential developmental
delays. It can allow for earlier detection of delays and improve child
health and well-being for identified children.
Why is developmental screening important?
Many children with behavioral or developmental disabilities are missing
vital opportunities for early detection and intervention.
Many children with developmental delays are not being identified early.
In the United States, 17% of children have a developmental or behavioral
disability such as autism, mental retardation, and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity
Disorder. In addition, many children have delays in language or other
areas, which also impact school readiness. However, less than 50% of these
children are identified as having a problem before starting school, by
which time significant delays may have already occurred and opportunities
for treatment have been missed.
Early identification and intervention for children with developmental
delays is mandated The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
Amendments of 1990 to 1997 require states to provide early identification
and provision of services to infants and toddlers with 1) developmental
delays, 2) established conditions that are associated with developmental
delays, and, 3) at the state's option, children at risk for developmental
delays. States that do not serve the at-risk population are encouraged
to track and monitor these children's development, so that they may be
referred in the future if needed. IDEA also mandates that states refer
children, free of charge, for a comprehensive, multidisciplinary evaluation
by a team who, with the family, decides on which services are needed for
the child (via the Individualized Family Service Plan). Furthermore, it
mandates states to implement coordinated, family-centered, and culturally
competent community-based systems of care, to provide early intervention
services for children identified with developmental problems. The National
Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center, lists early intervention
programs by state and provides their contact information for interested
parents and professionals.
Recent surveys indicate that parents want information and guidance from
their health care provider about their child's development. However, studies
sponsored by the American Academy of Pediatrics show that about 65% of
pediatricians feel inadequately trained in assessing children's developmental
status.
Who provides developmental screening services?
Developmental screening can be done by various professionals in healthcare,
community, or school settings. The role of health professionals has become
particularly important, because of the greater emphasis placed on early
identification of children with delays. Through well-child visits, health
professionals have regular contact with children 0 to 3 years-of-age,
allowing them an opportunity to monitor development through periodic developmental
screening. This has led healthcare professional organizations, such as
the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the American Academy of Neurology,
to recommend that all infants and young children be screened for developmental
delays periodically in the context of office-based primary care.
State and national efforts
Significant efforts (for example, by the American Academy of Pediatrics
Committee on Children with Disabilities, the Commonwealth Fund, or the
Department of Education) have been made, over an extended period of time,
to address the issue of developmental screening. This has allowed for
the implementation of several national and multistate programs. However,
there are currently no national datasets that track this practice and
how it is integrated into primary care. There are a few datasets that
are particularly relevant to developmental screening and there are several
that cover related topics.
Previous Articles:
|
