Standardization of the Denver developmental screening test for Israeli children

The Denver Developmental Screening Test (DDST), standardized in the USA, is used for the early detection of developmental disabilities. For use in Israel, the DDST required translation into Hebrew and standardization for Israeli children in view of the test's known cultural bias. The sample included 2,248 children between the ages of 2 wk and 6.5 yr, and was stratified by demographic, ethnic and socioeconomic characteristics to approximate a representative cross-section of the Israeli population. The testers were not psychologists but they received special training. Our results revealed significant differences between the norms of the DDST and its Israeli version, mainly in the personal-social items. For 23 test items there was a difference of greater than 20% between the ages at which they were achieved by 50% of Israeli and Denver children, and for 35 items, there was a difference of greater than 20% in the 90th percentile ages in the two groups. Israeli children showed earlier development in language and personal-social items, while the Denver sample showed earlier development in fine and gross motor skills. The time range between the 25th and 90th percentile in many of the items in the Israeli sample was greater than in the Denver sample. There were sufficient differences between the findings in the two groups to justify using the Israeli version for the local population.