Parent-completed developmental screening in premature children: a valid tool for follow-up programs.

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Neurology
• Developmental Pediatrics
• Screening Tools

Background:

• Preterm infants face higher risks of psychomotor developmental delays.
• Early identification of developmental issues is crucial for timely intervention.
• Parental screening tools can facilitate early detection in large cohorts.

Purpose of the Study:

• To validate the parental Ages and Stages Questionnaires (ASQ) for psychomotor development screening in ex-premature infants at 2 years corrected age.
• To assess the impact of socioeconomic status and maternal education on ASQ efficacy.
• To evaluate ASQ's predictive accuracy against established psychometric tests.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 703 very preterm infants (<35 weeks gestational age) were assessed at 2 years.
• Parents completed the ASQ; infants underwent pediatric examination and the revised Brunet Lezine psychometric test (DQ score).
• Statistical analysis included receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis to determine ASQ's discriminatory power.

Main Results:

• The ASQ demonstrated good predictive value for identifying a developmental quotient (DQ) score ≤85 (Area Under Curve = 0.85).
• An ASQ cut-off score of ≤220 showed optimal discrimination (sensitivity 0.85, specificity 0.72).
• ASQ scores were not significantly associated with socioeconomic status or maternal education, indicating broad applicability.

Conclusions:

• The parental Ages and Stages Questionnaires (ASQ) is a valid and reliable screening tool for psychomotor development in 2-year-old ex-premature infants.
• ASQ efficacy is independent of socioeconomic factors, making it suitable for diverse populations.
• ASQ offers a low-cost, beneficial addition to follow-up programs, promoting parental engagement in infant development.