Early Detection Of Developmental Delays Research Articles

Neurodevelopmental Outcomes of Preterm Infants Using Bayley Scale of Infant Development-III (BSID-III): A Tertiary Care Centre Study

Background: Survival of preterm babies has improved and the focus now is on intact survival. Early detection of developmental delay is crucial so that diagnostic-specific early intervention can be commenced to optimize neuroplasticity. Objective: Primary: To assess the neurodevelopmental outcome by measuring preterm infants’ mean composite score for cognition, language, and motor skills. Secondary: To calculate the degree of developmental delay. Study design: A Cohort Study. Participants: Preterm neonates. Intervention: Bayley-III assessment done between 18 and 42 months. Results: Seventy preterm neonates were assessed between 18 and 42 months of age. They were divided into two groups based on gestational age. Mean composite score for cognition (<30 weeks = 79.84 ± 7.88 and >30 weeks = 86.32 ± 9.28; 95%CI: 81.16–85.55), language (<30 weeks = 79.16 ± 11.55 and >30 weeks = 89.37 ± 11.61; 95%CI: 81.90–87.70), and mean Motor scores (<30 weeks 81.69 ± 17.82 and >30 weeks = 89.84 ± 10.46; 95%CI: 82.59–89.63) were statistically significant. There was more than half the standard deviation deficit of composite scores between the two groups. Eighty-one percent had a moderate delay in cognition in the <30 weeks group as compared to 65.8% in >30 weeks. Similarly, for language and motor scores, 43.8% and 31.3% had a moderate delay in <30 weeks as compared to 39.5% and 42.1% for >30 weeks, respectively. Conclusion: Higher composite scores were observed among infants >30 weeks gestation. There was more than half a standard deviation deficit in composite scores among those <30 weeks of gestational age. The most affected was the language component.

Bridging the Gap: Parents' Knowledge of Childhood Developmental Milestones and the Early Identification of Children With Developmental Delay.

Background Monitoring children's acquisition of developmental milestones is integral to pediatric practice. Though pediatricians are responsible for evaluating children's development, parents have a crucial role in addressing delays as early as possible, where early detection of developmental delay can help in early intervention and ultimately potentiate a child's cognitive and social abilities toward an independent life. This study assesses parental knowledge of the warning signs denoting delayed developmental milestone acquisition, in addition to analyzing demographic variables that may influence their level of knowledge. Methods This cross-sectional study included 376 parents of children attending pediatric clinics in National Guard Health Affairs- King Abdulaziz Medical City, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. A two-section structured questionnaire was utilized. It included 16 option-based questions with one correct answer, while the other options were either an under or overestimate of the age at which the child should acquire a particularly significant milestone development across different domains. A score of 10 out of 16 was chosen as the minimum to show the appropriate level of knowledge. Results Most participants (n=282; 75%) were women, and 174 (46.27%) were between 29 and 39 years old. The highest reported level of education was college or higher (n=214; 56.91%). Only 41 (11%) parents had the required level of knowledge, while the remaining 335 (89%) fell short of meeting the passing level (mean 6.59, SD= 2.72). The motor domain had the highest level of accuracy, followed closely behind the cognitive domain. The language and social domains exhibited lower levels of accuracy. Conclusions Despite the majority of parents in this group possessing a college education and availing multiple health resources, there is a significant gap in their knowledge of typical trajectories of development milestones. Thus, there is a need for a nationwide initiative to promote the parent's proactive role in monitoring their children's growth.

Prevalence of developmental delay and associated risk factors among At Risk Surveillance System (ARSS) children at United Bulawayo Hospitals, Zimbabwe

Globally, 8.4% of children under five years of age have developmental disorders, with sub-Saharan Africa having the highest prevalence. In Zimbabwe, the At Risk Surveillance System (ARSS) follows up on babies with known developmental risk factors for early detection of developmental delay. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and severity of developmental delay in children under the ARSS at United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH). A descriptive cross-sectional study systematically sampled 160 babies enrolled in the ARSS between 2019 and 2020. The Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development Third Edition (BSID-III) tool was used to assess cognitive, motor, and language domains. Developmental delay risk factors were also noted from caregivers and patient files. A prevalence of 83.7% developmental delay was established in our sample, the majority of whom had mild developmental delay. The most important risk factors for developmental delay in all three domains were neonatal convulsions (Adjusted Odds Ratio, aOR, 5.6, p=0.03), Apgar scores of <5 (aOR 2.6, p=0.02), and being a boy (aOR 7.1, p<0.001). Developmental delay of 83.7% is higher than in previous findings because children included in this study had known risk factors for developmental delay. The risk factors were similar to those identified by other studies. Children with the most important risk factors need close monitoring as they have a high chance of developmental delay. Children with known risk factors should be closely monitored using the BSID-III, while the rest can be screened using cheaper and faster tools such as the Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ).

Combined screening of early childhood development, hearing and vision by community health workers using mHealth tools in a low-income community

ABSTRACT Children in low-income communities are at risk for developmental delays and sensory losses. mHealth screening tools enable community health workers to detect developmental delays and sensory losses. This study aims to describe a combined (developmental and sensory – hearing and vision) mHealth-supported screening programme conducted by community healthcare workers with children aged four-six years (n = 63) at early childhood development centres in a low-income community. Early childhood development practitioners (n = 5) assisted with developmental screening. Referral rates were 30% (n = 19) for development, 6% (n = 4) for hearing and 5% (n = 3) for vision. The average screening time for combined screenings was 11.72 min (SD 3.45 min). Post screening questionnaires probing participants' perspectives and experiences of the combined screening were positive. A combined mHealth-supported screening programme conducted by community health workers and early childhood development practitioners appears viable, supporting early detection of developmental delays and sensory losses in children from low-income communities.

Enhancing motor screening efficiency: Toward an empirically derived abridged version of the Alberta Infant Motor Scale

Use of machine learning (ML) in the early detection of developmental delay is possible through the analysis of infant motor skills, though the large number of potential indicators limits the speed at which the system can be trained. Body joint obstructions, the inability to infer aspects of movement such as muscle tone and volition, and the complexities of the home environment – confound machine learning's ability to distinguish between some motor items. To train the system efficiently requires using an excerpted list of validated items, a salient set, which uses only those motor items that are the ‘easiest’ to see and identify, while being the most highly correlated to a low/qualifying score. This work describes the examination of motor items, selection of 15 items that comprise the salient set, and the ability of the set to reliably screen for motor delay in the first-year infant.

Prevalence of Developmental Delay in 12-month-old Infants, Urban Health Centers, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran, 2018 - 2019

Background: Developmental delay (DD) in children is a crucial issue in pediatric health. The most practical evaluation way for early detection of developmental delay is parent-completed tool by the Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ). Objectives: The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of developmental delay in 12-month-old infants. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 5,025 ASQs of 12-month-old children who presented in urban health centers of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences from 23 August 2018 to 23 August 2019, were evaluated. Total scores in five main domains and six final questions were extracted. Results: Fifty-one-point-five percent were boys. Also, 243 cases (4.8%) had problem in at least one out of the five domains, 68 cases (1.35%) had DD in two domains, five cases (0.09%) in three domains, four cases (0.07%) in four domains, and two cases (0.03%) had an essential delay in all five domains. Developmental delay was seen more in gross motor (1.6%), followed by communication (1.5%), problem-solving (1%), fine motor (0.4%), and personal-social (0.3%), respectively. There were significant statistical differences in personal-social and problem-solving in boys. Among six questions in ASQ, the most common problem was in question 4 (1.4%), which is related to auditory problems. Conclusions: Developmental screening is a basic tool for developmental delay detection. Developmental delay diagnosis and early intervention may be possible through cost-effective screening tools.

Perceptions of Healthcare Providers and Caregivers Regarding Procedures for Early Detection of Developmental Delays in Infants and Toddlers in Saudi Arabia.

This study aimed to explore current practices adopted by frontline healthcare providers for the early detection of developmental delays in infants and toddlers in Saudi Arabia, with a specific focus on motor and speech delays and caregivers' perceptions of early detection of developmental delays and their awareness of well-child visits. Two cross-sectional surveys were conducted and distributed. The first survey was performed among healthcare providers who worked directly with infants and toddlers in the first 3 years of life, and the second survey was performed among caregivers of infants and toddlers who received healthcare services. Participants were recruited via online groups, social media platforms, and clinics. Overall, 60% of the healthcare providers played a role in identifying medical conditions that could be associated with delays and disabilities. However, they did not consistently check for normal development or developmental delays. Furthermore, the healthcare providers reported low frequencies of documenting developmental growth. The caregivers' survey results showed that 67% were familiar with the concept of "well-child visits", and the most frequently discussed topic by the healthcare providers was motor development. Well-defined, government-supported standards are needed to encourage regular well-child visits and implement efficient practices for the early detection of developmental delays.

Сучасні підходи до виявлення порушень розвитку дітей раннього віку в медичній практиці

Purpose - to analyze and summarize the international experience of using developmental screening of children in the first years of life for early detection of developmental delays and to improve the effectiveness of correctional and developmental strategies, taking into account the achievements of modern medical science and practice. The article presents modern approaches to the identification of developmental delays in young children in medical practice using screening tools, which makes it possible to establish risks in a timely manner and determine the route of assistance to the child. This model involves strengthening cooperation between specialists in the medical, psychological, pedagogical and social spheres among themselves, as well as between specialists and parents. The importance of involving parents in the screening process, using their knowledge to obtain comprehensive and complete information on the child’s development is emphasized. Medical and psychological-pedagogical support for the family of a child with health disorders and developmental delays, in the process of which specialists help parents create a special developmental environment at home to meet the child’s special needs in a timely manner, is the most effective form of comprehensive assistance, including early intervention services. Information is given on the international experience of implementing the screening system for the development of young children and its effectiveness. It is shown that the use of screening assessment and monitoring of development in medical practice creates prerequisites for identifying problems in development at an early stage, preserving health, improving the well-being of children and families that raise them, allows to increase the effectiveness of treatment or development activities, minimize existing and prevent secondary developmental delays in the child. It is shown that the involvement of primary health care doctors in developmental screening is an important stage in the formation of a system of modern care for young children and their families. The necessity of introducing developmental screening into everyday practice, into the work process of primary medical care specialists and ensuring their appropriate training has been proven. No conflict of interest was declared by the authors.

Early detection of developmental delay in infants born very preterm or with very low birthweight.

This study aimed to identify early clinical biomarkers from birth to 16 weeks corrected age to predict typical outcome and developmental delay in infants born very preterm or with very low birthweight. A prospective cohort of infants on the Sunshine Coast, Australia, was assessed using the Premie-Neuro Examination, the General Movement Assessment (GMA), the Alberta Infant Motor Scale, and the Infant Sensory Profile 2. At 24 months corrected age, delay was identified using the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, Third Edition (Bayley-III) and Neurosensory Motor Developmental Assessment (NSMDA). One hundred and four infants were recruited; 79 completed outcome assessments (43 females, 36 males; mean gestational age 30 weeks [SD 1 week 6 days], mean birthweight 1346 g [SD 323]). The incidence of developmental delay (motor or cognitive) was 6.3%. Suboptimal quality of fidgety general movements (temporal organization) at 16 weeks corrected age demonstrated the best predictive accuracy (Bayley-III motor: sensitivity 100% [95% confidence interval {CI} 3-100], specificity 75% [95% CI 63-84], area under the curve [AUC] 0.87); Bayley-III cognitive: sensitivity 100% [95% CI 3-100], specificity 75% [95% CI 64-84], AUC 0.88); NSMDA motor: sensitivity 100% [95% CI 40-100], specificity 81% [95% CI 70-90], AUC 0.91 [95% CI 0.86-0.95]). GMA trajectories that combined abnormal writhing general movements at 4 to 5 weeks corrected age with suboptimal quality of fidgety movement at 16 weeks corrected age were strongly predictive of developmental delay, superior to all other clinical tools, and perinatal and demographic variables investigated (p=0.01, Akaike information criterion method 18.79 [score corrected for small sample size], accounting for 93% of the cumulative weight). Only the GMA had sufficient predictive validity to act as a biomarker for both conditions: typical outcome and developmental delay (motor or cognitive). GMA trajectories that assessed both writhing general movements at 4 to 5 weeks corrected age and quality of fidgety movement at 16 weeks corrected age predicted adverse neurodevelopmental outcome, accurately differentiating between infants with typical outcomes and those at increased risk for motor or cognitive delay.

Evaluation of the Developmental Assessment for Intervention Manual (DAIM) for developmental screening in high-risk infants at 12 months of corrected age

Early detection of developmental delay provides opportunities for early intervention. The Developmental Assessment for Intervention Manual (DAIM) is the simplified screening tool for detection of developmental delay in Thai young infants implemented country-wide by the Ministry of Public Health since 2015. Unlike standard assessment tool, DAIM can be obtained by lay staff or parents and takes less time. We aimed to evaluate the accuracy of the DAIM for detection of developmental delay among high-risk infants. This single center prospective study was conducted from May, 2017 to December, 2021. The infants with corrected aged of 12 months with history of birth asphyxia or low birth weight (<2500 g) who visited a tertiary hospital for developmental assessment were invited to participate the study. The four developmental domains (gross motor, fine motor, receptive language, and expressive language) were assessed by Bayley-III and followed by DAIM in the same visit. The 126 infants were enrolled, 50% were male. Using Bayley-III score < 7 as reference, the sensitivity for gross motor domain, fine motor domain, receptive language and expressive language were 83.3%, 57.1%, 55% and 19.2%, respectively. Specificity for each domain was 75.4%, 88.2%, 74.5% and 92%. Positive predictive value for each domain was 26.3%, 22.2%, 28.9% and 38.5%. Negative predictive value (NPV) for each domain was 97.7%, 97.2%, 89.8% and 81.4%. With high sensitivity and NPV of DAIM in motor domain, but low in expressive language domains, using DAIM alone in high-risk infants can detect motor delay well but will miss many infants with expressive language delaye.

Effects of preterm birth and birth weight on developmental delays of children aged 12-36 months

Background: Early childhood is a critical period for the development of cognitive, linguistic, social, and motor abilities. Due to the importance of early detection of developmental delays in children, this study aims to investigate the effect of preterm birth and birth weight on the developmental skills among children aged 12-36 months. Materials and Methods: In this cohort study, 125 children of 12 to 36 months of age from Khorramabad, Iran, were evaluated in three groups, i.e. preterm group (59 children), low birth weight group and term infants group (21 children), and finally children with average birth weight and term infants group (45 children). This evaluation was carried out using the Ages &amp; Stages Questionnaires-Third Edition in five developmental areas. Five models of logistic regression were separately used for modeling the effect of the “age and birth weight of children”. The collected data were analyzed in SPSS v.22 software using logistic regression analysis, where the significance level was 0.05. Results: According to the findings related to child screening, the percentage of developmental delay in at least one area was 49.6%, where the highest and lowest rates of delay were 15.2% and 6.4% in fine motor and problem-solving skills, respectively. Moreover, 9.6% of the children were abnormal in communication skills, and 9.6% and 8.8% of the children were bnormal in gross motor skills and personal-social skills respectively. Based on the logistic regression method, the relationships between “the age and birth weight of children” and the state of communication skill development (P=0.235), fine motor skills (P=0.125) and personal-social skills (P=0.307) were insignificant but noticeable. Conclusion: Low birth weight in full-term infants is a risk factor for delayed communication and fine motor skills, while preterm birth is a risk factor for delayed personal-social skills. Preterm birth and low birth weight are risk factors for developmental delays in children, which require early screening to diagnose and prevent their future complications.

The feasibility of a crowd-based early developmental milestone tracking application.

ObjectiveParents’ tracking of developmental milestones can assist healthcare providers with early detection of developmental delays and appropriate referrals to early intervention. Crowdsourcing is one way to update the content and age data distribution of developmental checklists for parents and providers. This feasibility study examined which developmental milestones parents chose to track and what they added beyond traditional milestones, using the babyTRACKS crowd-based mobile app.MethodWe analyzed the developmental diaries of 3,832 children, registered in the babyTRACKS app at an average age of 9.3 months. Their parents recorded a median of 5 milestones per diary, selecting from the accumulating lists of age-appropriate milestones or authoring new milestones. The final database included 645 types of milestones; 89.15% were developmental, of which 43.6% were comparable to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) milestones while the rest were crowd-authored. Milestones were categorized into developmental domains: Gross Motor, Fine Motor, Oral Motor, Self-Care, Cognitive, Language Comprehension, Speech, Non-Verbal Communication, Social, Emotional, and Regulation.ResultsOn average, the milestone domains of Gross Motor, Fine Motor, Cognitive and Social were the most added to diaries (20%-30% of a diary). Within the Cognitive, Speech and Language Comprehension domains there were significantly more CDC comparable versus crowd-authored milestones (29% versus 21%, 22% versus 10%, 8% versus 4%). In contrast, within the Regulation and Oral Motor domains there were more crowd versus CDC milestones (17% versus 3%, 9% versus 3%). Crowd-authored Speech milestones were significantly older by 7 months than CDC milestones.ConclusionTracking daily observations of child development provides a window into personally relevant milestones for the child and parent. The crowd of parents can independently track and add new milestones across main developmental domains. Regulation and Oral Motor development especially interest parents. Parents may be less aware of early progress in Language Comprehension and Speech; thus, these domains require more structured screening. Designing mobile early screening which is crowd-based engages parents as proactive partners in developmental tracking.

Effect of medically assisted reproduction (MAR) and pregnancy planning on Bayley-III Screening Test subscales in preterm infants at 12 months of corrected age: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundThe association between medically assisted reproduction and pregnancy planning on overall developmental outcomes of infants has been studied in relatively few studies. The availability of accurate tools for the early detection of developmental delays is a major issue. The purpose of this study is describing the average neurodevelopment of preterm infants and assessing the association between medically assisted reproduction, pregnancy planning and neurodevelopmental outcomes among Hungarian preterm infants.MethodsCross-sectional study of preterm infants with gestational age < 37 weeks (N = 171) who underwent developmental assessment using Bayley-III Screening Test (Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development Screening Test – Third Edition) in five developmental domains (cognitive, receptive and expressive language, fine and gross motor) at 12 months of corrected age. We examined the developmental pattern of infants and the potential associations between medically assisted reproduction, pregnancy planning and Bayley-III Screening Test subscales. Information on the mode of conception and pregnancy planning was obtained through parental anamnesis.ResultsConcerning the risk for developmental delay, the language and motor subscales were the most affected. Examination of the mode of conception and developmental outcomes revealed higher neurodevelopmental skills in infants who were conceived through medically assisted reproduction. Significantly lower cognitive, receptive and expressive language skills were found to be associated with unplanned pregnancies. Multi-way analysis of variance was conducted in order to assess the impact of the mode of conception and pregnancy planning on subscales.ConclusionsWe cannot unambiguously conclude that MAR and pregnancy planning had a solely positive effect on the development of preterm infants at 12 months of corrected age, but our results are vital for the design and implementation of further research.

Standardization of the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development for Persian Children

Objective: The first years of life are particularly important because vital developments occur in all development domains including motor, cognition, communication, and social-emotional. Early detection of developmental delays is essential in planning for early intervention. This study aims to standardize the score of bayley scales of infants and toddlers development-third edition (Bayley-III) for Iranian samples aged 1-42 months. Materials &amp; Methods: Participants included 1700 children divided into 17 age groups of 100 children. The normative information was based on a national sample representative of Iran’s population for infants aged 1-42 months based on the 2011 national population and housing census. For each age group, the total raw scores of each Bayley-III subscale (cognition, receptive communication, expressive communication, fine motor, and gross motor) were converted to scaled scores with a Mean±SD of 10±3. The composite scores (cognition, language and motor domains) were obtained by summing up the scaled scores. The composite scores were scaled to a metric with Mean±SD of 100±15 ranged 40-160. Growth scores (ranged 200-800, with a Mean±SD 500±100), percentile ranks (ranged from 1-99, with 50 as the mean and median), and developmental age equivalent were also determined. Confidence intervals for all five subscales were also determined. To compare the development level of the US children (norm samples) and Iranian children, their mean raw scores in five subscales were compared for finding the difference in scores. Results: The Bayley-III was performed on 1744 children aged 0-42 months, including 908 (52.1%) girls and 836 (47.9%) boys. In comparing the development level of Iranian and US children, it was found that the mean scores were significantly different in 28 age groups (P&lt;0.05). In seven age groups, the US children’s scores were higher (age groups &lt;6 months), and in 21 age groups, the scores of Iranian children were higher ( age groups &gt;6 months). Conclusion: For early detection and intervention of children with developmental delays, a test with a normalized score should be used in Iran. Using the US norm-based scores in Iranian children leads to inaccuracy in the early detection of children with developmental delays.

Standardization of a Developmental Milestone Scale Using Data From Children in Israel

Routine developmental screening tests for children are used worldwide for early detection of developmental delays. However, assessment of developmental milestone norms lacks strong normative data, and there are inconsistencies among different screening tools. To establish milestone norms and build an updated developmental scale. This is a cross-sectional, population-based study conducted between 2014 and 2020. Developmental assessments were conducted by trained public health nurses, documented in national maternal child health clinics, known as Tipat Halav, which serve all children in Israel. Participants included all children born between January 2014 and September 2020, who were followed at the maternal child health clinics from birth to age 6 years. Exclusion criteria were preterm birth, missing gestational age, low birth weight (<2.5 kg), abnormal weight measurement (<3% according to standardized child growth charts), abnormal head circumference measurement (<3% or >97% according to standardized child growth charts), and visits without developmental data or without the child's age. Data analysis was performed from September 2020 to June 2021. In total, 59 milestones in 4 developmental domains were evaluated, and the achievement rate per child's age was calculated for each milestone. A contemporary developmental scale, the Tipat Halav Israel Screening (THIS) Developmental Scale, was built, presenting the 75%, 90%, and 95% achievement rates for each milestone. The THIS scale was compared with other commonly used screening tests, including the Denver Developmental Screening Test II (Denver II), the Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Developmental Assessment. A total of 839 574 children were followed in the maternal child health clinics between January 2014 and September 2020 in Israel, and 195 616 children were excluded. A total of 3 774 517 developmental assessments were performed for the remaining 643 958 children aged 0 to 6 years (319 562 female children [49.6%]), resulting in the establishment of new developmental norms. In terms of the comparable milestones, THIS milestones had a match of 18 of 27 (67%) with the Denver II, 7 of 7 (100%) with AIMS, and 10 of 19 (53%) with the CDC Developmental Assessment. The remaining unmatched milestones were achieved earlier in the THIS scale compared with other screening tools. The THIS developmental scale is based on the largest population evaluated to date for developmental performance, representing the heterogeneous, multicultural population comprising this cohort. It is recommended for further evaluation worldwide.

Zašto i kada je važna primena standardizovanih upitnika "Ages &amp; Stages Questionnaires" (ASQ-3) - ''Uzrasti i razvoj deteta'', za procenu i praćenje razvoja dece u ranom detinjstvu?

In pediatric primary health care, one of the basic activities is the prevention of diseases and conditions that endanger the quality of life of the child and his/her daily functioning in the environment. According to world data , about 17% of children have some developmental difficulties which are discovered in only 50% of them before they start school. The goal of development assessment is systematic and precise early detection of deviations from normative development, timely undertaking of appropriate interventions, as well as elimination or mitigation of disorders. Research has shown that the use of instruments has increased the early detection of developmental delays or developmental disorders (in this way, 70-80% of children with developmental problems are detected) and provided an opportunity for early application of intervention measures. The set of 21 Ages &amp; Stages Questionnaires ASQ-3 has been used for more than 30 years worldwide to screen and evaluate children's development by observing how children progress in important areas such as speech, physical ability, social and problem-solving skills for children aged 2 months to 5.5 years. It is filled in by parents and returned to professionals, and they further make an assessment based on clear instructions on the procedure of writing results in the domains of development, scoring (graphical and tabular) interpretation and communication, as well as training parents to stimulate development through play, ie. what to do next with the child's parent to stimulate development through play, ie. how and what to do next with the child. In the past ten years, the Association of Pediatricians of Serbia, together with its partners, has advocated for a comprehensive assessment and monitoring of children's development using valid instruments in the framework of preventive pediatric examinations. Through a series of projects in this area, through education of pediatricians and associates, and by application in practice, the standardized questionnaire ASQ-3, entitled "Age and development of the child" was tested and adapted in 2019.

Development and validation of Egyptian developmental screening chart for children from birth up to 30 months.

BackgroundDetecting developmental delay in children is an ongoing world commitment, especially for those below three years. To accurately assess the development of children; a culturally appropriate screening tool must be used. Egypt lacks such tool and multiple studies have shown that western tools are not suitable in other cultures.ObjectivesTo develop and validate an easy, rapid, culturally appropriate and applicable screening chart for early detection of developmental delay among Egyptian children from birth up to 30 months and develop a Z-score chart for motor and mental development follow up based on our Egyptian screening chart.MethodsA cross sectional randomized study was carried out on 1503 Egyptian children of both genders aged from birth up to 30 months assumed to have normal development according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. They were selected from vaccination centers and well-baby clinics. Developmental milestones from Baroda development screening test (BDST) were applied on them after items were translated and adapted to Egyptian culture. Egyptian children developmental milestones scores were analyzed and carefully prepared in tables and charts. A 97% pass level of developmental achievements represents the threshold below which children are considered delayed. A Z-score chart for motor and mental development follow up was designed by calculating each age group achievement. The developed Egyptian developmental screening chart (EDSC) was validated against Ages and Stages Questionnaires (ASQ-3) as a reference standard in another different sample of 337 children in different age groups.ResultsThe developed EDSC is represented in a chart format with two curves 50% and 97% pass level. Children considered delayed when the score below 97% pass level. Results revealed a statistically significant difference between EDSC and BDST at 50% and 97% pass levels. A Z-score chart for motor and mental development follow up was designed by calculating each age group achievement. EDSC sensitivity and specificity were calculated 84.38 (95% CI [67.21%–94.72%]) and 98.36 (95% CI [96.22%–99.47%]) respectively with an overall test accuracy 97.03 (95% CI [94.61%–98.57%]) (p ≤ .001). Agreement between EDSC and ASQ-3 was high (kappa score was 0.827) with negative and positive agreement 98.36 and 84.38, respectively.ConclusionsExtensive revision of the BDST was needed in order to create and validate a more culturally appropriate Egyptian screening chart. This is the first study to create and validate an Egyptian-specific screening tool, to be rapid and easy to use in Egypt for early detection of developmental delay and enabling early intervention practices. A Z-score curve is reliable for follow up motor and mental development by calculating each age group achievement.

DEVELOPING AND ASSESSING VALIDITY AND RELIABILITY OF AN ARABIC VERSION OF AGES AND STAGES QUESTIONNAIRE FOR DEVELOPMENTAL SCREENING OF 2-18 MONTHS AGED CHILDERIN

Developmental milestones are achieved by children across the multiple domains of development in the early years of life. The AAP Committee on Children with Disabilities states that: “All infants and young children should be screened for developmental delay”. Developmental screening identifies those who may need further evaluation and referral for services. Ages and stages questionnaire (ASQ) third edition is a Parent-completed effective developmental screening tool. Its success lies in its parent-centric approach and inherent ease-of-use.The Arabic version of the ASQ3 questionnaire considered suitable, reliable, and easy to use instrument for assessment and follow up of child development. It could be administered to caregivers during the regular visits to the primary health care for vaccination. The questionnaire should be scored by the primary health care physician. An easy, quick and cheap screening tool as ASQ3 is considered very helpful for early detection of developmental delay which will lead to early intervention and subsequent reduction in the incidence of disability, better life for the children with special needs and reduction of its burden on the community and government

Scoping review on noticing concerns in child development: a missing piece in the early intervention puzzle

Background Between 13 and 32% of children in developed nations are at-risk for developmental delays. In order to identify concerns, there is a need to understand the mechanisms that facilitate becoming aware of it. Aim A scoping review was conducted to understand this process of “noticing”, through existing literature on parent experiences. Methods Records from major academic databases and grey literature sources were searched using key terms. Thematic analysis was then conducted to synthesise findings. Results Twenty papers meeting inclusion were identified. Noticing a delay was found to be an interplay between who notices – parents or other – and how they do so. How concerns are noticed was through two mechanisms: knowledge of child development, and comparison with other children. Conclusions This review highlights the nuanced complexity of noticing concerns with a child’s development. Understanding how this process occurs and the key ingredients that enable it is vital to supporting early detection of developmental delays. Implications for rehabilitation Noticing developmental delays is a complex process that evolves over time, derived of ‘who’ notices and ‘how’ this occurs. When asking parents about child development, professionals need to listen for both bolder “aha moments” as well as more subtle “niggling” comments as indicators of parental concerns. Building baseline parental knowledge of developmental milestones may facilitate noticing of atypical development. Encouraging parents to engage in social opportunities with other children promotes both positive child development and enables developmental monitoring through use of comparison.

The prevalence and socioeconomic determinants of undetected developmental delay in preschool-aged children in the northwest of Iran: a population - based study

ABSTRACT New estimates indicate that many children in low- and middle-income countries are at risk of developmental delay (DD). This study aimed to assess the prevalence and socioeconomic determinants of undetected DD, and mean developmental scores (MDS) in preschool-aged children in the northwest of Iran. This study was conducted on 615 children aged 36–60 months. For the early detection of DD, the Persian version of the Ages and Stages Questionnaires (ASQ) was used for face-to-face interviews with mothers. Our findings showed that the prevalence of DD was 13.98% (1.63% in communication, 2.28% in gross motor skills, 3.41% in fine motor, 2.67% in problem-solving and 3.58% in social-personal domains). Multivariate analyses showed that DD was higher in preterm children, single-child families, and the second SES quantile. Due to the high prevalence of DD and the importance of early identification and intervention, it is necessary to diagnose DD at early ages.