Developmental Screenings and Assessment/Evaluation

A developmental screening is a way for your Child Guidance team to gain a general idea of a child’s progress in each of the five areas of development: language, cognitive, gross motor, fine motor and personal/social skills. A developmental screening is not an IQ test and is not capabale of diagnosing a child with developmental delay or disorder. The parent questionnaires will give information about the need for further testing and services or continued monitoring of your child’s development and social/emotional progress. Screening appointments provide an introduction to Child Guidance services and give parents the opportunity to ask questions, discuss concerns, and receive additional information about how to help their children reach their developmental milestones.

Specialists will invite parents and child(ren) to come back every few months for ongoing progress reports and to support families in each stage of early childhood. Families will also be referred for any other appropriate services or resources as necessary or requested.

Contact your local Child Guidance program to schedule a screening today.

What is Autism Spectrum Disorder? Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a developmental disability that that is typified by deficits in social communication, as well as restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior. People with ASD may communicate, interact, behave and learn in ways that are different from most other people. The symptoms of autism, and the type and amount of supports needed, can vary greatly from one person with autism to another. They might repeat certain behaviors and might resist change in their daily activities. Signs of ASD begin during early childhood, and the condition persists throughout the lifespan.

Child Guidance staff can provide non-diagnostic screenings to determine if further evaluation for autism is needed. If your child is showing signs of autism, call Child Guidance for further information and resources.

The  Newborn Hearing Screening (NBHS) is conducted at birth to identify children who may have a hearing loss and need further testing. There are two screening methods used; Otoacoustic Emissions (OAE) and Automated Auditory Brainstem Response (A-ABR). Both methods are quick and simple methods that don't require a behavioral response.

Otoacoustic emissions (OAE) screening measures sound waves produced in a child's inner ear. A tiny probe is placed just inside the ear canal, where it measures the ear's response (echo) when clicks or tones are played in the child's ears. This test can be used for newborns, but also works for older children. Children may be awake, but must be quiet and still.

The AAP recommends that all kids have hearing tests at ages 4, 5, 6, 8 and 10 years, with additional screenings between ages 11-14, 15-17 and 18-21. These screenings can diagnose hearing changes at the earliest possible stage, when interventions can have the greatest positive impact.

Keep in mind that hearing changes can be very gradual, making them hard to notice at first. Consistent screening helps assure that issues are not overlooked so your child receives the care and support that will help them thrive.

• I can tell my baby hears me. Are tests really necessary?
  
  • You might wonder about the need for formal screening, since your infant may startle, blink or turn their head in response to different sounds. Many newborns react this way but still have trouble hearing well enough to learn spoken language. Your child learns to speak by listening and processing what they hear. Hearing concerns that go undetected can affect the early learning and language development that lays a foundation for success in school and throughout life.
• How do newborn & childhood hearing tests work?
  • Newborn hearing screening is pain-free and takes around 5 to 10 minutes to complete. The screening may be done while your baby is sleeping or lying still.
• What if my newborn's hearing screen raises concerns?
  • If your baby's screening test falls outside the typical range, a repeat screen may be recommended. If the repeat screen shows concerns, follow-up testing with a hearing professional should be done as soon as possible.
• If my newborn's hearing is fine, will they need to be screened later?
  • All children need routine hearing tests, since hearing can change significantly as kids grow.

Common causes of childhood hearing changes include:

• Frequent ear infections
• Measles or meningitis
• Head injuries
• Exposure to loud noises
• Secondhand smoke

The AAP recommends that all kids have hearing tests at ages 4, 5, 6, 8 and 10 years, with additional screenings between ages 11-14, 15-17 and 18-21. These screenings can diagnose hearing changes at the earliest possible stage, when interventions can have the greatest positive impact.

Keep in mind that hearing changes can be very gradual, making them hard to notice at first. Consistent screening helps assure that issues are not overlooked so your child receives the care and support that will help them thrive.

Hearing at home: signs to watch for in your child

Parents, caregivers and other family members are often the first to spot changes in a child's hearing. Even if your newborn's hearing screen shows no concerns, talk with your pediatrician if you notice that your child:

• Doesn't startle at loud noises
• Doesn't turn toward sounds
• Is slow to begin talking or is hard to understand
• Can't say single words such as "dada" or "mama" by 12 to 15 months
• Is slow to sit or walk without support
• Has trouble holding their head steady
• Doesn't notice you until they see you
• Focuses on vibrating noises more than other sounds
• Shows no enjoyment or pleasure when you read to them
• Doesn't always respond when called, especially from another room
• Appears to hear some sounds, but misses others
• Wants music or TV volume on louder than other family members

Source

American Academy of Pediatrics (Copyright @ 2023)

The information contained on this Web site should not be used as a substitute for the medical care and advice of your pediatrician. There may be variations in treatment that your pediatrician may recommend based on individual facts and circumstances.

Child Guidance Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) perform speech-language screenings to briefly assess a child’s strengths and weaknesses in their speech-language development. A screening consists of informal observation and the use of screening tools to determine if a child’s communication abilities appear to be developing typically or if further evaluation is needed. Areas screened include listening comprehension, language expression, speech sound production, vocal quality and speech fluency. Hearing screenings are also included in the speech-language screening appointment.