 |
Many children with behavioral or
developmental disabilities, such as autism, are missing vital
opportunities for early detection and intervention.
-
In the United States, 17% of children have a
developmental or behavioral disability such as autism, mental
retardation, and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder; in addition,
many children have delays in language or other areas, which also impact
school readiness. However, less than 50% of these children are
identified as having a problem before starting school, by which time
significant delays may have already occurred and opportunities for
treatment have been missed.
-
Recent surveys indicate that parents want
information and guidance from their health care provider about their
child’s development, but studies sponsored by the American Academy of
Pediatrics show that 65% of pediatricians feel inadequately trained in
assessing children’s developmental status.
-
Although developmental screening is widely
recommended, there are currently no national data tracking the state of
this practice and how it is integrated into primary care.
Developmental screening—a brief assessment
designed to identify children who should receive more intensive
diagnosis or assessment—can improve child health and well-being,
especially for children with autism and other developmental disabilities
or delays.
-
Research has demonstrated that early
detection of developmental disabilities and appropriate intervention can
significantly improve functioning and reduce the need for lifelong
interventions. For example, children with autism identified early and
enrolled in early intervention programs show significant improvements in
their language, cognitive, social, and motor skills, as well as in their
future educational placement.
The Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention has established the following goals to help children reach
their full potential:
-
Develop and test community-based model
programs in primary care settings (and potentially other settings that
care for young children) to screen children early on, identify those
with autism and other developmental disabilities or delays, and ensure
that children with these conditions receive appropriate care.
-
Increase health care providers’ knowledge
and skills in developmental screening by incorporating developmental
screening into professional health care training.
-
Monitor the use of screening for autism and
other developmental disabilities or delays in primary care settings.
-
Raise awareness about the need for and
benefits of developmental screening to identify and care for children
with autism and other developmental disabilities or delays
[Return to Top]
Date: September 20,
2005
Content source: National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental
Disabilities
|
|
|
