The Importance of ASQs to Child Development
By Karo Doro, BSc Neuroscience and Psychology
The Ages and Stages Questionnaires (ASQ) are screening tools used to evaluate developmental areas by highlighting a child's strengths and areas where referral for intervention or more support may be necessary. Most children who would benefit from early intervention aren't detected until after they start school because social-emotional and developmental abnormalities in children often appear to be minor. Realistically, pediatricians and specialists rely solely on clinical judgment and as a result 70% of children are not properly prepared for school readiness. (Why Screening Matters - Ages and Stages, 2015). According to estimates, 1 in every 6 children has behavioural and social-emotional issues, learning disabilities, or developmental delays. Only 20% to 30% of these kids are recognised as needing assistance before the start of school. (Why Screening Matters - Ages and Stages, 2015) Early intervention provides significant academic, social, and financial advantages. Studies have indicated that early intervention for developmental delays increases the likelihood that a child will graduate from high school, hold a job, live independently, and stay away from delinquency, violent crime, or police related issues. (Singh et al., 2016).
The ASQ serves as a parent-completed questionnaire that can be used as a general developmental screening tool for children from birth to 66 months. It evaluates five developmental domains: communication, gross motor, fine motor, problem-solving, and personal adaptive abilities. These questions typically successfully pinpoint young children who require additional assessment to determine whether they qualify for early intervention treatment. ASQ screening occurs through a variety of steps:
1. Select the questionnaire; choosing the appropriate questionnaire for the child's age is simple with ASQ® Online's automated questionnaire selection or ASQ® calculator,
2) The parent completes the questionnaire; the distribution of questionnaires can be done in person, by mail, during a home visit, or online using the safe, individualized ASQ® Family Access platform,
3) The parent answers the questions; the ASQ items are simple for parents to use with their kids and answer questions about their child’s behaviour. This takes 10 to 15 minutes to complete,
4) The ASQ is scored; results are automatically scored promptly and precisely with ASQ Online. The scoring process for the paper format just takes a few minutes by hand. After that, contrast the child's results with the scoring sheet's cut-off points,
5) Discuss results with trained ASQ facilitator and determine next steps; parents are informed of the screening results and, if necessary, ASQ facilitator will make recommendations for resources for monitoring, follow-up care, or additional testing, and
6) ASQ facilitator shares activities with parents; By providing quick, enjoyable learning activities, parents are assisted in fostering their child's development.
ASQ-3, Specifically evaluates five main domains of child development: communication, gross motor, fine motor, problem-solving, and personal social skills. Why is this important? Children with good communication skills are more likely to learn new things, make friends, express their emotions, and take part in daily activities. Some kids could struggle to express themselves adequately or comprehend what is being said to them due to cognitive and/or physical disabilities. To govern motions in the hands, fingers, lips, tongue, and eyes, tiny muscles must cooperate with the brain and neurological system. Children who have developed their fine motor abilities will have an easier time eating, writing, manipulating items, and dressing themselves. Movements like running, crawling, swimming, or jumping are referred to as gross motor skills. These motions are crucial for young children to practice as they grow because they teach them how to control and coordinate their bodily movements. As decision making is a necessary part of issue solving, effective problem-solving abilities typically result in more confidence. Lastly, a child's ability to make friends, share with their classmates, and collaborate in social situations will be facilitated by having the appropriate set of social skills. Improved cognitive function and mental health are also linked to social skill development. There are numerous strategies to support a child's social skill development.
Additionally, ASQ-SE assesses the social emotional growth of infants and young children. Young children learn social and emotional skills in their first few years of life, including how to control their emotions, share with others, and follow directions. The foundation for the development of literacy, numeracy, and other cognitive abilities that are essential for success in school and in life is laid by these skills, and these can be identified through ASQs.
Want to know how your child is developing? The Ages and Stages Questionnaires can be accessed through the Lethbridge Family Centre:
ASQ 3: https://www.asqonline.com/family/aa1c9a
SE 2: https://www.asqonline.com/family/680fa2
References:
Centre, F. (2021, August 9). Ages & Stages Questionnaire. Family Centre. https://www.famcentre.ca/ages-stages-questionnaire/
Kendall, S., Nash, A., Braun, A., Bastug, G., Rougeaux, E., & Bedford, H. (2019). Acceptability and understanding of the Ages & Stages Questionnaires®, Third Edition, as part of the Healthy Child Programme 2-year health and development review in England: Parent and professional perspectives. Child: Care, Health and Development, 45(2), 251–256. https://doi.org/10.1111/cch.12639
Singh, A., Squires, J., Yeh, C., Heo, K., & Bian, H. (2016). Validity and reliability of the developmental assessment screening scale. Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care, 5(1), 124. https://doi.org/10.4103/2249-4863.184636
Why Screening Matters - Ages and Stages. (2015). Ages and Stages; Ages and Stages. https://agesandstages.com/about-asq/why-screening-matters/