Developmental Screening
Developmental Screening is an easy, accurate way to assess a child’s developmental skills. Periodic screening helps parents and medical providers determine if a child is developing typically, or if the child is at risk for a developmental delay. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends a complete developmental screening be completed during well-child visits at least 3 times during a child’s first 5 years of life. The recommended timing of these screenings currently is at age 9 months, 18 months, and 30 months. Complete developmental screening includes a review of parental concerns regarding the child’s development, behavior, family risk factors including parental stress, and depression in addition to an assessment of the child’s communication, fine motor, gross motor, problem solving, and social-emotional development.
Children identified by this process as having an increased risk for a delay in one or more of these areas may be referred for further evaluation by another source like the local Area Education Agency’s Early ACCESS Program. This additional evaluation may indicate the need for early intervention that could include in-home or preschool based services depending on the age of the child. Earlier identification of a delay with early initiation of intervention services sets the stage for the best possible outcome for the child. Early detection and intervention for even a slight delay provides the best chance for the child to "catch up" in order to be ready for kindergarten when they reach school age.
For more information about childhood development visit or click on link: www.zerotothree.org.