It's the million dollar question!
During those infant and toddler years, parents and caregivers monitor their child's development. New parents wait with eager anticipation for that first smile, or that first coo. Rolling over, crawling, and that first step are milestones we never want to miss. Parents follow developmental milestone charts, to track progress, or as many parents tend to do they compare their child's development with another child of the same age, which is not really a good idea.
Children go through typical development, but there is a window of time in which a child can develop a certain skill and still be on track. When a child does not reach a certain milestone within that time frame that's when a formal developmental screening can provide insight to a child's development and whether he or she may need further testing.
And you might ask, "What is a developmental screening?
A Developmental screening takes a closer look at how a child is developing. Your child is given a brief questionnaire that asks questions about his or her development, including language, movement, thinking, behavior, and emotions. As the parent, or caregiver you can complete the same questionnaire about the child. No one knows a child's skills and abilities better than a parent or caregiver.
American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends developmental and behavioral screening for all children during regular well-child visits at these ages:
- 9 months
- 18 months
- 30 months
In addition, AAP recommends that all children be screened specifically for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) during regular well-child visits at:
If your child is at higher risk for developmental problems due to preterm birth, low birthweight, environmental risks like lead exposure, or other factors, your healthcare provider may also discuss additional screening. Source: (CDC)
There is no visit to the doctor's office or signing up for parenting classes and home visits. Not that those services are not necessary, because they are. The purpose of AIG-SA is to offer parents convenient access to screening. Depending on the results of a developmental screening, AIG-SA makes recommendations and/or referrals. It is through these regular screenings that professionals and parents can decide if further evaluation and assessment is necessary. Early detection is key to addressing potential delays. Regular screening provides this and also provides parents and caregivers a glance at what to expect next.