Professional Recommendations

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends routine developmental screening at 9-month, 18-month, and 30-month well-child visits. In addition, screening for potential autism spectrum disorder (ASD) symptoms should be conducted at 18-month and 24-month (or 30-month) well-child visits.

Developmental Screening Measures

The following are types of validated developmental screening tools that a provider may use to assess a child's development:

• Ages & Stages Questionnaire, Third Edition (ASQ-3)
• Brigance Early Childhood Screens
• Developmental Assessment of Young Children, Second Edition (DAYC-2)
• Early Screening Profiles
• FirstSTEP Screening Test for Evaluating Preschoolers
• Learning Accomplishment Profile, Diagnostic Screens
• Parents' Evaluation of Developmental Status

Autism Spectrum Disorder Screening Measures

The following are types of validated screening tools that a provider may use to assess for symptoms of autism spectrum disorder:

• Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (M-CHAT-RF) - Download for free
• Communication and Symbolic Behavior Scales Developmental Profile (CSBS DP), Infant/Toddler Checklist - Download for free
• Social Communication Questionnaire (SCQ)
• Autism Spectrum Rating Scales (ASRS)
• Screening Tool for Autism in Toddlers and Young Children (STAT)

For more information regarding developmental screening measures, access the CDC's Birth to 5: Watch Me Thrive! A compendium of Screening Measures for Young Children and the CDC's developmental screening fact sheet.