New Manual for Selecting Developmental Screening Instruments from the Commonwealth Fund

March 12, 2008

The importance of surveillance and screening for developmental problems in young children is widely recognized by experts and reflected in pediatric practice guidelines. But many providers need guidance in choosing the screening instrument that is right for their practice.

Developed by Dennis Drotar, Ph.D., Terry Stancin, Ph.D., and Paul Dworkin, M.D., Pediatric Developmental Screening: Understanding and Selecting Screening Instruments helps providers choose and apply the structured screening method that is most appropriate for their practice setting. The manual is based on an extensive review of scientific research on available developmental screening instruments.

Part I of the manual is designed to help practitioners define their screening needs. Part II includes a series of guides that compare screening instruments with respect to clinical utility, and sensitivity and specificity in different populations and at various ages.