Exploring parent-engaged developmental monitoring of young children before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, Porter Novelli Styles 2019 and 2021.
Ciara Nestor, Pooja Sonikar, Amber Eberhardt and 3 others
PMID 37150662WHAT IT FOUND
Parents' engagement in developmental monitoring and rates of reported concerns did not change significantly from before the pandemic to during it.
However, half of parents who reported a concern said their child did not receive services.
Key findings
01The percentage of parents reporting a developmental concern was similar in 2019 (28%) and 2021 (26%), with no significant difference.
02Among parents who reported a concern, 54% in 2019 and 50% in 2021 reported their child received services, showing no significant change.
03Reliance on doctors for developmental monitoring was the most common method in both years (72% in 2019, 77% in 2021).
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
Read the rest of this summary
You get three full summaries a month, free, and we do not ask for a card. Search, the TL;DRs and your library stay unlimited either way.
What it does not show
The surveys were cross-sectional, not longitudinal, so the same parents were not followed over time. The samples differed significantly in demographics (e.g., parental age, race/ethnicity, child age) between 2019 and 2021. Sample size was too small to analyze subgroups by demographics or child age. Participants were recruited from a market research panel and compensated, which may affect representativeness. Questions about concerns and services referred to 'ever' having experienced them, not specifically during the pandemic, so some 2021 responses may reflect pre-pandemic events.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicting interests. The data source (Porter Novelli) is a public services organization, and the disclaimer notes the content does not necessarily represent the official position of the CDC.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that the pandemic had no impact on child development. This study only looked at parent-reported monitoring and concerns. It did not measure actual child developmental outcomes, and the authors note that negative impacts may only become clear later.