Developmental Screening Among Children Born Preterm in a High-Risk Follow-Up Clinic.

Abstract

The psychometric properties of two formats of developmental screening tools that may be used in follow-up clinics providing primary care to children born preterm are presented. 28 children born extremely preterm (<27 weeks) attending a high-risk clinic at the time of their 18-24 month visit were administered the Child Development Review, Brigance Early Head Start Screen II, and Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development-Third Edition. Both screeners identified the majority of the sample as at-risk. The Brigance Screen II more accurately identified children at-risk compared with the Child Developmental Review (sensitivity: 1.00 and 0.44; specificity: 0.60 and 0.80; positive predictive value: 79% and 80%; negative predictive value: 100% and 44%, respectively). Screening assessments using direct skills assessment may be an efficient and effective method of identifying children with developmental delays, particularly high-frequency but lower severity difficulties, in high-risk follow-up care settings.