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What is "development" and "developmental delay"?
What is developmental screening?
What is meant by "Standardized Developmental Screening Tool"?
Why is developmental screening important?
Does my health care provider use a Standardized Developmental Screening Tool?
What do the results mean?
If the results of the screening indicate that a referral needs to be made, then what happens?
What is Early Intervention Colorado?
What is Child Find?
What is “development” and “developmental delay”?
Development refers to a child’s learning, activities and behaviors. It is often broken into specific areas of:
Sometimes a child may have a developmental delay, which can mean a number of things. In general, it means that in one or more areas of development, the child does not perform activities as well as the average child of the same age. This may be temporary, and in time, the child will ‘catch up.’ In other cases, there may be an underlying disability. Either way, most children greatly benefit from intervention, and the earlier the better.
What is developmental screening?
The purpose of screening a child’s development is to ensure a child is learning and growing as would be expected for a child at a particular age. Screening will provide a snapshot of where your child is developmentally. When a delay is detected by a screening, it means that intervention can be provided earlier than if one waited for more obvious signs to appear. As with medical screenings, the results are not definitive and cannot be used to make a diagnosis; however, they may indicate a need for more in-depth assessment in one or more areas of development. Screening is most effective when a health care provider uses a Standardized Developmental Screening Tool.
What is meant by “Standardized Developmental Screening Tool”?
A Standardized Developmental Screening Tool is a reliable and consistent questionnaire that has been tested on a large number of children to be able to identify the average developmental abilities of children in a particular age range. Rather than different people using their own ways of measuring and classifying a child’s development, a standardized tool means that every child is being held to the same standards. This helps professionals understand and communicate the results with each other. Examples of Standardized Developmental Screening Tools include the Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ) and Parents' Evaluation of Developmental Status (PEDS).
Why is developmental screening important?
Screening is a great way to make sure your child is on track. Research shows that when a provider uses a Standardized Developmental Screening Tool, he or she is much more likely to detect a potential developmental delay sooner. Screening could highlight a possible delay in instances where none was suspected, or where a parent or caregiver might have begun to have concerns. The earlier intervention is provided, the better chance a child has of making significant strides in improvement. Early intervention may also mean that more serious delays can be avoided.
Even when there are no developmental delays, the use of a standardized screening tool can be helpful in structuring discussions between parents and health care providers or child care providers about a child’s development. You know your child best and can provide valuable information about his or her abilities and behaviors.
Does my health care provider use a Standardized Developmental Screening Tool?
When you take your child for his or her regular well-check visits, do you fill out a questionnaire, answering questions about your child’s activities and behaviors? Doctors, physicians assistants, and nurses are observing your child during the visit, and some use a list of questions appropriate to the child’s age. This is not the same as using a Standardized Developmental Screening Tool such as the ASQ (Ages and Stages Questionnaire) or PEDS (Parents’ Evaluation of Developmental Status).
If you aren’t sure, ask!
If you would like to tell your child’s health care provider about the ABCD Program, which can help him or her begin to use a Standardized Developmental Screening tool, you can share this brochure* (Click to download pdf), with the office and/or direct them to this website to contact the ABCD team.
*This brochure refers to Early Childhood Connections which is now Early Intervention Colorado
Your child’s health care provider will be able to discuss the specifics with you. A Standardized Developmental Screening Tool compares the average performance of children in a particular age range. The tools express the results in different ways, but basically the results indicate either that the child is progressing as would be expected for his or her age, or that a more in-depth assessment should be done. This assessment may be in all areas of development, or in a particular area, depending on the age of the child, the screening results, and the opinions of the parents and professionals involved. The results do NOT mean that the child has a delay or disability. A more in-depth assessment will be able to either rule out these possibilities, or provide a basis by which support can be offered.
If the results of the screening indicate that a referral needs to be made, then what happens?
From birth to a child’s 3rd birthday, referrals are made to Early Intervention Colorado. After the child turns 3 years old, referrals are made to Child Find.
These agencies will work with the family to develop a plan for a range of appropriate services based on the child’s (and family’s) needs. Families do not pay for services through Early Intervention Colorado or Child Find/Special Education. The type of insurance a family has impacts services that can be obtained from specialists, either private or those connected with a hospital. Referrals can also be made to specialists, such as physical, occupational or speech therapists, who will provide services in their particular area of expertise.
What is Early Intervention Colorado?
Early intervention Colorado provides developmental supports and services to children birth through two years of age who have special developmental needs. It can help improve your child’s ability to develop and learn. It can also help you and your family learn ways to support and promote your child’s development, within your family activities and community life.
In Colorado, the overall system of early intervention is known as Early Intervention Colorado. It is designed to “connect” a family with early intervention services, such as occupational, speech or physical therapy, to help infants and toddlers grow and develop, and to help their family in this process. It is a voluntary program and does not discriminate based on race, culture, religion, income level, or disability.
A significant difference between the Child Find, or Special Ed system and Early Intervention (EI) program is that EI services are provided based on the family’s needs, in settings where the child naturally spends time; whereas Special Ed services are provided in a school environment.
Click here to visit the Early Intervention Colorado website for more information and resources.
Child Find is the program that assesses school-age children and addresses their needs through the Special Education services of the public school system.
Child Find is a federally mandated process by which states “locate, identify, and refer as early as possible all young children with disabilities and their families who are in need of Early Intervention Program (Part C) or Preschool Special Education (Part B/619) services.”
If you child has had his or her third birthday and your health care provider feels a referral is appropriate, he or she will refer you to Child Find.