ABSTRACT
Screening refers to any activity used to identify infants in need of further evaluation or assessment. Screening often involves examining large numbers of infants to target those infants who might have a possible medical or developmental problem and should be referred for follow-up diagnostic evaluation. Identifying infants who are at risk for delays in development is the goal of comprehensive screening programs. Yet this is sometimes a difficult goal to accomplish because of the dynamic nature of development. Conditions of risk during the early months of infancy can be ameliorated by a supportive environment, and that, in turn, affects development. Likewise, an infant born with few problems may later show developmental delay as a result of inappropriate parenting or dysfunctional parent-infant interactions. Types of screening tests discusses along with such screening issues as the focus of screening, timing of screening, and elements of useful screening programs. Screening tests use direct observations of infants, parent reports, and direct infant testing.
