Clinical utility and psychometric properties of tools for early detection of developmental concerns and disability in young children: A scoping review.
Andrea Burgess, Carly Luke, Michelle Jackman and 14 others
PMID 39285306WHAT IT FOUND
67 validated tools are recommended for screening and assessing children from birth to 5 years 11 months.
The ASQ-3 is best multi-domain screen; GMA is strongest early CP screen; SACS-R is best autism screen.
Key findings
01The review identified 67 tools for children from birth to 5 years 11 months that had published validity and reliability and were available for use.
02The ASQ-3 was recommended as the best multi-domain screening tool, with moderate sensitivity and specificity and better accuracy in children older than 24 months.
03The GMA is the strongest screening tool for early detection of CP, and the HINE is recommended for diagnostic assessment of CP.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The review provides recommendations based on available data drawn from systematic review findings, not a new patient study. Comparisons between tools are complicated by tool type, cut-off points, and study population, including high-risk versus low-risk groups and age. Full-text screening was performed by one reviewer. Newer versions such as Bayley-4, BDI-3 and MABC-3 were not included because published information was not available in systematic reviews. Some tools have age ranges beyond 5 years 11 months, so reported psychometrics may be an underestimation for this age group. The ASQ-3 is a screener; it may miss children with developmental concerns or incorrectly identify others, and it does not fully consider quality of performance. The review excluded tools not available to primary healthcare, allied health and community practitioners, including genetic testing, MRI and neonatal-only tests.
Declared interests
Funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care, the Merchant Charitable Foundation via the Children's Hospital Foundation, the National Health and Medical Research Council, the University of Queensland, and the Cerebral Palsy Alliance. Authors stated no conflicts.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that a recommended tool will improve a child's development. The review reports test accuracy, clinical utility and expert recommendations, not evidence that screening changes outcomes.