ABSTRACT
This chapter looks at some new directions in infant assessment. It presents the rationale for multiple measures and for the interdisciplinary assessment of at-risk infants. The chapter discusses the integration of infant-focused and family-focused assessment in planning intervention strategies. Developmental assessment is a process designed to measure infants' competence and areas of concern. In early intervention programs and clinics, where infants are monitored or treated over time, comprehensive developmental assessments are replacing the one-time specific assessment approach that uses a standardized test. The interdisciplinary team approach to the assessment of infants with handicaps is an outgrowth of current knowledge about the multidimensional nature of infant development. As clinicians have become aware of the importance of language and communication to development, language assessment has been included in comprehensive assessments of at-risk infants.
