PEDIATRIC

DEVELOPMENTAL ASSESSMENTS
Supplement to YouTube Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQJZTt6B9q4

Denver Developmental Screening Test [1 month - 6 years]
Trick Did you know that Denver, Colorado has been named the “Baby Boomer Capital of America?” Maybe when all these babies came,
they needed a test to screen babies for early identification of delays for children at risk.
Focus 4 Areas: Personal-social, fine motor-adaptive, language and gross motor skills.
Notes Standardized task performance & observation. Each test item indicates the chronological age at which the child is expected to
perform. Therapist will interpret child’s performance based on Normal, Abnormal, Questionable or Unstable.

Bayley Scales of Infant Development [1 month - 42 months]
Trick Associate Bayley with Baseline. This is a rating scale used to attain a baseline for intervention by assessing developmental
functioning and performance levels.
Focus 5 Areas: Cognitive, language, motor, social-emotional, and adaptive behavior.
Notes Standardized rating scale. Involves parents completing 2 questionnaires. Possible to obtain detailed info on functioning even from a
nonverbal child.

Denver Screening vs. Bayley Scales
Similarities Differences
-Standardized. -Denver- For children at risk for delays.
-Begin testing at 1 month. -Bayley- Not just for children at risk. It’s administered to assess developmental functioning to get a
-Both involve questionnaires for baseline. Also, notice the name of the assessment and you’ll see that it’s for infants & toddlers. You
parents/caregivers. don’t administer this test past 3 ½ years, unlike Denver, which is up to 6 years.

FirstSTEP Screening Test for Preschooler [2 years 9 months – 6 years 2 months]
Trick What is the First Step before doing a full comprehensive evaluation? A screening. This assessment identifies preschoolers at risk
and determines in which areas of development, if any, require a more comprehensive assessment. Total scores determine whether a
child’s performance is within acceptable level or if the child is at risk.
Focus 5 Areas: Cognition, communication, physical, social & emotional, adaptive functioning
Notes Standardized screening with tabletop tasks and gross motor tasks.

Miller Assessment for Preschoolers (MAP) [2 years 9 months – 5 years 8 months]
Trick Lucy Jane Miller was frustrated with an absence of adequate testing tools for early childhood and wanted to MAP out a plan to
predict school-related problems. In 1982, she published the MAP.
Focus Sensory, motor & cognitive abilities.
Notes Standardized task performance screening that helps you to evaluate preschoolers for mild to moderate developmental delays.
Child’s performance is compared with norms.

FirstSTEP vs. MAP
Similarities Differences
-Standardized. -FirstSTEP is a screening to determine a need for comprehensive evaluation. It is designed to be used in
-For preschoolers. conjunction to MAP or other preschool assessments. ~15 min. to administer
-Begin testing at age 2 yrs & 9 mo. -MAP is more comprehensive, taking ~30-40 min. to administer.

Hawaii Early Learning Profile (HELP)
[0-3 yrs. for children at risk or with dev. delay] & [3-6 yrs. for children with or w/out delay]
Trick Hawaii = Think nature/natural/family vacation/free style èNature (assessment administered in child’s natural environment.)
Family vacation (Family-centered in the context of family during regular routines) Free style (Non standardized & flexible, with
play-based activities). Identifies needs and monitor growth & development.
Focus 6 Areas- Cognitive, language, gross motor, fine motor, social-emotional and self help.
Notes Non-Standardized, educational curriculum –referenced test. Developmental age range can be approximated.

Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory (PEDI) [6 mo. – 7.5 years]
Trick There is the word disability in the name. This assessment detects functional deficits and assesses capabilities to determine
developmental level.
Focus 3 Areas- Self-care, mobility & social skills
Notes Standardized behavior checklist and rating scale to analyze functional capabilities and determine level of assistance & modification.