Developmental Screening: The Key to Improved Outcomes

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) states that early identification of developmental disorders is critical to the well-being of children, an essential function of the medical home and a responsibility of all pediatric health care professionals. A 2001 poll of AAP members indicated that only 23 % used a standardized screening instrument to monitor the early development of their patients.1 The results of this survey were consistent with previous studies which showed that 15 % to 40 % of responding pediatricians used standardized screening.2,3 Primary care pediatricians should establish a pattern and practice for addressing developmental concerns in children from birth through three years of age. The AAP recommends that primary care physicians perform developmental surveillance at every preventive visit and administer a developmental screening tool at the 9-,18-, and 24- or 30-month visits and anytime for those whose surveillance raises concerns about possible delayed development. Developmental surveillance is a flexible, longitudinal, continuous, and cumulative process used to identify children who may have, or be at risk for, developmental problems. The AAP Policy Statement “Developmental Surveillance and Screening of Infants and Young Children ” presents the key components of developmental surveillance as 1.) eliciting and attending to parental concerns