Just 15 minutes could mean a better future for children with developmental problems.
University researchers found that 10 to 15 minutes – the time it took to fill out a survey – resulted in more children obtaining services they need.
From April 2005 to March 2006, a team of University researchers and Eugene physicians asked parents to fill out a survey about their children’s developmental skills before a doctor’s appointment. The 30-question survey, called the Ages and Stages Questionnaire(ASQ), featured questions about communication, gross-motor, fine-motor and personal-social skills.
Researchers hoped the survey would find more children who needed special education services.
The result?
Eugene’s PeaceHealth clinics participating in the study saw a 224 percent increase in referrals of 1- and 2-year-old children with developmental delays when compared to the previous year.
“We realized we weren’t identifying enough children who were going to have developmental delays later on in life,” said Dr. Kevin Marks, a pediatrician at the downtown PeaceHealth clinic and a co-author of the study. “We just weren’t doing a good enough job.”
As a result, the researchers are now calling for earlier childhood screening.
The American Academy of Pediatrics estimates that about 12 to 16 percent of children have developmental delays or behavioral problems.
Hollie Hix-Small, who co-authored the study as an early intervention student at the University, is now a research associate for the University and an independent early childhood consultant. She said doctors often don’t identify children who have fine-motor and personal-social developmental problems.
“A 15-minute doctor’s appointment isn’t enough to cover everything,” Hix-Small said.
The study noted that tight scheduling and heavy patient loads contribute to why doctors may not always identify children who need help.
“There’s just not a large amount of doctors, and they only see kids for a short amount of time,” said Jane Squires, an early intervention professor and a co-author of the study.
In the study, which was published in the August issue of Pediatrics magazine, researchers compared the number of referrals doctors would make in a typical appointment by asking questions along with a physical exam, to the number of referrals made with the help of the ASQ.
Out of 78 referrals, researchers found 53 were made because of the ASQ. Of those, 38 qualified for federally-funded intervention services, and 44 were eligible for additional monitoring.
Marks said the survey is easy to fill out for any parent.
“You don’t have to be a college student majoring in journalism to read it,” he said. “Any parent can read this.”
Earlier intervention also means children with developmental problems can get help quicker, Marks said. Children with early signs of autism would especially benefit from early intervention, he added.
“You’re easier able to work with the brain and make suggestions to parents – like going to a certain daycare or avoiding TV,” Marks said. “You can really hone your message if you know there’s an issue.”
Hix-Small said she wants parents to fill out an ASQ before appointments so parents and doctors can discuss any concerns. She is currently developing an online version; parents would be able to fill out an ASQ at home or at a kiosk in a clinic.
Hix-Small said she encourages parents to demand a standardized screening tool.
“Having a developmental screening tool provides more information to doctors and gives them feedback,” she said. “Parents know their kids best. They observe their kids all the time.”