Denver Developmental Screening Tool II: Explanation and Implementation
The Denver Developmental Screening Tool II (DDSTII) is a revision of DDST and DDST-R and is the most widely used developmental screening tool for examining children. It was developed at the University of Colorado Medical Center in Denver, Colorado; hence it’s name. It screens a child for cognitive delays and behavioral problems from birth to 6 years of age. The sooner the delay is picked up the sooner the child can get appropriate treatment that can help develop the necessary skills to cope with the delay. A patient’s performance with a given task is compared against their age group distribution scale that reflects the percentage of a certain age group that can perform the …show more content…
The testing took place at Charlotte’s house, in her room, and her mother accompanied her. Prior to starting the screen the mother was asked if the child was born prematurely to correctly calculate the adjusted age. Charlotte was not, and therefore the above age is correct. All props used to perform the test were brought into the room, to eliminate any unnecessary distraction. Charlotte was very cooperative, alert, and interested, following the instructions given to her. Attached is DDSTII test form that was used during the …show more content…
She showed no delays and exhibited progression appropriate to her age. No referrals were made, nor deemed necessary by the examiner since there were no significant delays. The mother stated “she felt her child was very advanced for her age”. It was reiterated to the mother that this was not an IQ or intelligence test, rather a developmental assessment, showing what the child can do at a particular age. However it was acknowledged by the examiner that she had no concerns about Charlotte’s development, and that the mother had done a fine job at stimulating the child, who was developing appropriately for her age.
Conclusion
A child’s development, just like growth is evolving and changing throughout childhood, and screening should be completed throughout a child’s developmental years. The DDSTII is an effective tool to screen a child’s rate of development compared to other children their age. However it is important to assess “the whole picture” and not solely rely on a screening test to determines a child’s development. Continuously evaluating data from a comprehensive health and family history, physical examination, and developmental screening, is the best way for a health care practitioner to assess a child’s total well
The Denver Developmental Screening Tool II (DDSTII) is a revision of DDST and DDST-R and is the most widely used developmental screening tool for examining children. It was developed at the University of Colorado Medical Center in Denver, Colorado; hence it’s name. It screens a child for cognitive delays and behavioral problems from birth to 6 years of age. The sooner the delay is picked up the sooner the child can get appropriate treatment that can help develop the necessary skills to cope with the delay. A patient’s performance with a given task is compared against their age group distribution scale that reflects the percentage of a certain age group that can perform the …show more content…
The testing took place at Charlotte’s house, in her room, and her mother accompanied her. Prior to starting the screen the mother was asked if the child was born prematurely to correctly calculate the adjusted age. Charlotte was not, and therefore the above age is correct. All props used to perform the test were brought into the room, to eliminate any unnecessary distraction. Charlotte was very cooperative, alert, and interested, following the instructions given to her. Attached is DDSTII test form that was used during the …show more content…
She showed no delays and exhibited progression appropriate to her age. No referrals were made, nor deemed necessary by the examiner since there were no significant delays. The mother stated “she felt her child was very advanced for her age”. It was reiterated to the mother that this was not an IQ or intelligence test, rather a developmental assessment, showing what the child can do at a particular age. However it was acknowledged by the examiner that she had no concerns about Charlotte’s development, and that the mother had done a fine job at stimulating the child, who was developing appropriately for her age.
Conclusion
A child’s development, just like growth is evolving and changing throughout childhood, and screening should be completed throughout a child’s developmental years. The DDSTII is an effective tool to screen a child’s rate of development compared to other children their age. However it is important to assess “the whole picture” and not solely rely on a screening test to determines a child’s development. Continuously evaluating data from a comprehensive health and family history, physical examination, and developmental screening, is the best way for a health care practitioner to assess a child’s total well