The Role of Parents' Observations and Concerns in Screening for Developmental Delays in Young Children

Abstract

An important issue in providing early intervention services is the identification of young children who are at risk or have developmental disabilities. The research reported here examines the role of parents' observations of, and concerns for, their child in screening for developmental delays in preschool children. In this study of 86 children (30 to 67 months) attending a community screening clinic, two factors---parents' concerns about speech, language, or cognitive skills, and parents' ratings of the child's activity on a temperament scale---accounted for 27% of the variance in the likelihood of screening failure and referral. Strategies for including systematic information from parents in the identification of infants, toddlers, and preschool children at risk for developmental delay are discussed.