MythBusters for Healthcare Providers: Developmental Screening

At a glance

On this page, several myths about developmental screening are disproven. Screening tools can be used on younger children, usually require minimal training, take a short amount of time to administer, and can incorporate information from parents.

Myths vs facts wording infogrpahic

About developmental screening

Healthcare providers play a critical role in monitoring children’s growth and development and identifying concerns as early as possible. Pediatric primary care providers are in a unique position to promote children's healthy development because they have regular contact with children before they reach school age, and their families. The AAP encourages pediatric care providers to provide family-centered, comprehensive, and coordinated care.

doctor speaking with young girl who is holding a teddy bear
Healthcare providers play an important role in promoting children's healthy development.

What Is Developmental Screening?‎

Developmental screening is more in-depth than monitoring and may identify children with a developmental risk that was not identified during developmental monitoring.
Keep Reading: Developmental Monitoring and Screening for Healthcare Professionals

Myths vs. facts: Developmental screening

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"Myths vs Facts" about developmental screening.
Myth #1
Fact
There are no adequate screening tools for preschoolers.
Although this may have been true decades ago, sound screening measures exist today. Many screening measures have sensitivities and specificities greater than 70%.12
Myth #2
Fact
A great deal of training is needed to administer screening.
Training requirements are not extensive for most screening tools. Many can be administered by paraprofessionals.
Myth #3
Fact
Screening takes a lot of time.
Many screening instruments take less than 15 minutes to administer, and some require only about 2 minutes of professional time.13
Myth #4
Fact
Tools that incorporate information from the parents are not valid.
Parents’ concerns are generally valid and are predictive of developmental delays. Research shows that for 70-80% of children with disabilities, parents had expressed a concern about their child’s development.45
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Content Source:
National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities
  1. Glascoe FP. Collaborating with parents: Using Parents' Evaluation of Developmental Status to detect and address developmental and behavioral problems. Ellsworth & Vandermeer Press; 1998.
  2. Committee on Children with Disabilities. Developmental surveillance and screening of infants and young children. Pediatrics. 2001 Jul 1;108(1):192-5.
  3. Dobrez D, Sasso AL, Holl J, Shalowitz M, Leon S, Budetti P. Estimating the cost of developmental and behavioral screening of preschool children in general pediatric practice. Pediatrics. 2001;108(4):913-922.
  4. Glascoe FP. Evidence-based approach to developmental and behavioural surveillance using parents' concerns. Child Care Health Dev. 2000;26(2):137-149.
  5. Squires J, Nickel RE, Eisert D. Early detection of developmental problems: strategies for monitoring young children in the practice setting. J Dev Behav Pediatr. 1996;17(6):420-427.