Related Experiment Videos
Ages and Stages Questionnaire at 3 Years for Predicting IQ at 5-6 Years
Marie-Laure Charkaluk1,2,3, Jessica Rousseau4, Johanna Calderon5
1Inserm UMR 1153, Obstetrical, Perinatal and Pediatric Epidemiology Research Team (Epopé), Center for Epidemiology and Statistics Sorbonne Paris Cité, DHU Risks in Pregnancy, Paris Descartes University, Hôpital Tenon, Paris, France; charkaluk.marie-laure@ghicl.net.
Insights
The 36-month Ages & Stages Questionnaire (ASQ) can identify children at risk for later cognitive delay. Low maternal education is also a significant risk factor for lower IQ in preschoolers.
Area of Science:
- Child Development
- Developmental Pediatrics
- Cognitive Psychology
Background:
- Early identification of cognitive delay is crucial for timely intervention.
- The Ages & Stages Questionnaire (ASQ) is a widely used screening tool for developmental delays.
- Predictive value of the 36-month ASQ for later cognitive function requires further investigation in general populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the predictive accuracy of the 36-month ASQ for identifying children with low IQ ( <85) at ages 5-6 years.
- To identify additional risk factors for low IQ that are independent of or interact with ASQ scores.
- To inform early intervention strategies by understanding predictors of cognitive delay.
Main Methods:
- Prospective cohort study of 939 children.
- Developmental assessment at 36 months using ASQ.
- Cognitive assessment at 5-6 years using Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence.
- Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis to determine optimal ASQ threshold.
Main Results:
- A 36-month ASQ score threshold of 270 optimally identified children with IQ <85 at 5-6 years (sensitivity 0.77, specificity 0.68).
- Maternal education level and occupational activity were associated with risk of low IQ at a given ASQ score.
- No significant interaction was found between ASQ score and other studied factors in predicting low IQ.
Conclusions:
- The 36-month ASQ is a valuable tool for identifying children at risk of later cognitive delay in the general pediatric population.
- Low maternal education is a significant, independent risk factor for lower IQ in preschool children.
- Combined use of ASQ and consideration of maternal education can enhance early identification of children needing cognitive support.
Objectives:
To assess the predictive value of the 36-month Ages & Stages Questionnaire (ASQ) score for IQ score at age 5 to 6 years in the general population and to identify factors associated with IQ <85 once the ASQ score is taken into account.
Methods:
Data were collected from 939 children enrolled in a population-based prospective cohort study. Developmental outcomes at 36 months were assessed via the ASQ and at 5 to 6 years via the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence. The ASQ threshold was identified via the receiver operating characteristic curve. Additional predictive factors to obtain an IQ <85 were investigated, and their interaction with ASQ score was studied.
Results:
Sixty-nine children (7.3%) had an IQ <85. A 36-month ASQ score threshold of 270 was optimal to identify children with an IQ <85 at 5 to 6 years, with a 0.77 ± 0.11 sensitivity and 0.68 ± 0.03 specificity. Maternal educational level and occupational activity at the time of ASQ completion were associated with the risk of an IQ <85 at a given ASQ level. In the multivariate model, no interaction between the studied factors and ASQ score reached significance.
Conclusions:
In the general pediatric population, 36-month ASQ parental reports could be used to identify children at later risk of cognitive delay. Low maternal education level should also be considered as a major risk factor for lower IQ in preschool children regardless of ASQ score.