Why should I have my child screened?
One in eight children has a delay in their development. Some problems are small and correctable. Others, like autism, have no cure. Regardless of the delay, there is consensus in the medical community. The earlier a problem is identified and receives attention, the better off the child and family are in the future.
Many developmental delays can be identified in the first year of life. But when doctors and parents don’t monitor their child’s development, problems can arise. For example, according to a Report from the Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network published in MMWR in February 2007, the prevalence of autism among 8 year old American children is 1 in 150. According to data published by FightingAutism in November 2004, the prevalence among 8 year olds in the Ohio Public Schools in 2003 was 1 in 290. Either the prevalence of autism is lower than the national average in Ohio, or that nearly 50% of children with autism in Ohio are not being identified.
In Ohio, those numbers were worse. According to focus group data compiled through the Autism Diagnosis Education Pilot Program (ADEPP), the average wait from moment of first concern to diagnosis of autism for focus group participants was two years, four months. And even though many of these delays can be found in the first year of life, the average age of diagnosis was seven. Quoting the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention, “During this (lost) time, the child could have received help for these problems and may even have entered school more ready to learn.”
The Ohio Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics, is here to fix those issues through the promotion of developmental screening. Here's a step by step process to help monitor child development and find the right resources if a problem arises.
1. Learn about developmental screening is and see some frequently asked questions.
2. Monitor your own child’s development on-line.
3. Find local doctors who perform developmental screening.
4. If a problem arises, identify local resources.
5. Help us spread the word about developmental screening.