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Developmental stages of developmental screening: steps to implementation of a successful program
Jennifer A Pinto-Martin1, Margaret Dunkle, Marian Earls
1University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, Philadelphia 19104, USA. pinto@nursing.upenn.edu
American Journal of Public Health
|October 1, 2005
Summary
Early autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and developmental disability screening can identify children as young as 18 months. Current medical and educational practices diagnose children much later, highlighting a critical gap in early detection for developmental conditions.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Pediatrics
- Child Psychology
- Public Health
Background:
- Research demonstrates reliable early detection of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and developmental disabilities in children from 18 months using 2-stage screening.
- Current clinical practices lag significantly, with average diagnosis ages between 3 to 6 years.
- This delay hinders timely intervention and support for affected children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To address the gap between research findings and clinical practice in early developmental screening.
- To discuss the challenges of implementing universal developmental screening in pediatric care.
- To present and evaluate models for early autism spectrum disorder and developmental disability screening programs.
Main Methods:
- Review of current research on 2-stage screening strategies for developmental disabilities.
- Analysis of challenges in integrating universal developmental screening into pediatric settings.
- Presentation and comparative discussion of two early screening program models: one community-based and one pediatric-focused.
Main Results:
- Early screening strategies show high validity and reliability for detecting developmental disabilities, including ASD, in children 18 months and older.
- Significant disparities exist between research capabilities and current diagnostic timelines in medical and educational settings.
- Two distinct models for early screening programs were examined, highlighting varied implementation approaches.
Conclusions:
- There is a critical need to bridge the gap between advanced research on early detection and current clinical application for developmental disabilities.
- Implementing universal developmental screening in pediatric care presents challenges but is crucial for earlier diagnosis.
- Evaluating different screening models is essential to optimize early identification and intervention for autism spectrum disorder and other developmental concerns.