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Early Childhood

Decoding Diagnostic Tests

Early Childhood

Decoding Diagnostic Tests

Decoding Diagnostic Tests
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Understanding Common Diagnostic Tests for Children

If you or your child’s doctor have noticed signs of developmental delays or other special needs, it can feel overwhelming to figure out the next step.

Developmental delays are often a natural part of your child’s unique growth and don’t necessarily indicate a serious issue. However, getting additional assessments can ensure that your child has access to early intervention and any support they may need.

Navigating the process of seeking diagnostic tests can feel daunting, like wading through a sea of medical jargon and acronyms.  

To make the process a little easier,  we’ve put together a guide to some of the most common diagnostic tests — who they’re for, what they assess, and how they’re used.  These assessments should always be administered by qualified professionals, like psychologists, school psychologists, speech therapists, and other specialists.

Developmental Delays: Common Screening Tools

1. Ages and Stages Questionnaires (ASQ)

  • Age Range: 1 month to 5½ years
  • Purpose: Screens for developmental delays in key areas such as:
    • Communication
    • Gross and fine motor skills
    • Problem-solving
    • Social skills
  • Method: Parent-completed questionnaire.

2. Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development (Bayley-III)

  • Age Range: 1 to 3½ years
  • Purpose: Comprehensive developmental evaluation covering:
    • Cognitive abilities
    • Language skills
    • Motor function
    • Social-emotional development
    • Adaptive behavior
      ‍

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Diagnostic Tools

3. Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS-2)

  • Age Range: Varies by module
  • Purpose: Gold standard for diagnosing autism.
  • Method: Structured, play-based observation evaluating behaviors linked to autism.

4. Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS)

  • Age Range: Children and adolescents
  • Purpose: Assesses autism symptoms and severity.
  • Method: 15-point rating scale covering:
    • Verbal and non-verbal communication
    • Social interaction
    • Response to sensory input
      ‍

Intellectual Disabilities: Cognitive Assessment Tools

5. Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence (WPPSI-IV)

  • Age Range: 2½ to 7 years
  • Purpose: Measures:
    • Verbal comprehension
    • Visual-spatial skills
    • Fluid reasoning
    • Working memory
    • Processing speed
  • Outcome: IQ score to identify intellectual disabilities or giftedness.

6. Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scales (SB5)

  • Age Range: 2 to 85+ years
  • Purpose: Evaluates five key cognitive areas:
    • Fluid reasoning
    • Knowledge
    • Quantitative reasoning
    • Visual-spatial processing
    • Working memory
      ‍

Speech and Language Disorders: Assessment Tools

7. Clinical Evaluation of Language Fundamentals (CELF-5)

  • Age Range: 5 to 21 years
  • Purpose: Diagnoses language disorders through evaluation of:
    • Syntax
    • Semantics
    • Pragmatics
    • Language memory

8. Preschool Language Scales (PLS-5)

  • Age Range: Birth to 7 years
  • Purpose: Assesses:
    • Auditory comprehension
    • Expressive communication
  • Outcome: Identifies early language delays and areas for support.
    ‍

Motor Skill Issues: Evaluation Tools

9. Peabody Developmental Motor Scales (PDMS-2)

  • Age Range: Birth to 5 years
  • Purpose: Detects motor skill delays through:
    • Fine motor skill assessment (grasping, drawing)
    • Gross motor skill assessment (walking, jumping)

10. Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency (BOT-2)

  • Age Range: 4 to 21 years
  • Purpose: Measures:
    • Balance
    • Coordination
    • Agility
    • Strength
  • Use: Ideal for designing physical therapy programs.
    ‍

Adaptive Behavior Concerns: Functional Living Skills Tests

11. Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales (Vineland-3)

  • Age Range: Birth through adulthood
  • Purpose: Assesses:
    • Communication
    • Daily living skills
    • Socialization
    • Motor skills

12. Adaptive Behavior Assessment System (ABAS-3)

  • Age Range: All ages
  • Purpose: Measures adaptive behaviors for daily life:
    • Conceptual
    • Social
    • Practical skills
  • Use: Supports IEP development and treatment planning.
    ‍

Learning Disabilities: Academic Skill Assessments

13. Wechsler Individual Achievement Test (WIAT-III)

  • Age Range: 4 to 50 years
  • Purpose: Identifies learning disabilities in:
    • Reading
    • Math
    • Written and oral language

14. Woodcock-Johnson Tests of Achievement (WJ-IV)

  • Age Range: 2 to 90+ years
  • Purpose: Evaluates academic skills and guides intervention strategies.
    ‍

ADHD: Behavioral Rating Scales

15. Conners Comprehensive Behavior Rating Scales (CBRS)

  • Age Range: 6 to 18 years
  • Purpose: Assesses:
    • Inattention
    • Hyperactivity
    • Impulsivity
  • Method: Ratings by parents, teachers, and the child.

16. Vanderbilt ADHD Diagnostic Rating Scale

  • Age Range: 6 to 12 years
  • Purpose: Helps diagnose ADHD symptoms across home and school settings through:
    • Parent and teacher evaluations

‍

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Auditory Sensitivity

My child is sensitive to loud noises
(e.g., sirens, vacuum cleaner).

My child seeks out specific sounds or types of music and appears calmer when listening to them.

Tactile Sensitivity

My child is irritated by certain fabrics or tags in clothing.

My child seems indifferent to sensations that are usually painful or to extreme temperatures.

Visual Sensitivity

My child is sensitive to bright or flashing lights.

My child tends to avoid eye contact.

Taste/Smell Sensitivity

My child constantly prefers bland foods and rejects foods with strong flavors or spices.

My child seeks out strong or unusual smells, such as sniffing food or objects.

Proprioceptive Sensitivity

My child prefers tight hugs or being wrapped in a blanket.

My child is unaware of body position in space (e.g., often bumps into things).

Social Sensitivity

My child becomes anxious or distressed in crowded spaces.

My child is hesitant or resistant to climbing or balancing activities (e.g., jungle gyms, see-saws).

Movement Sensitivity

My child dislikes fast or spinning movements

Vestibular Sensitivity

My child becomes anxious or distressed in crowded spaces.

My child is hesitant or resistant to climbing or balancing activities (e.g., jungle gyms, see-saws).

Please answer all questions before submitting.

Your Child’s Score is

  • 0-15

    Low Sensory Sensitivity

  • 16-30

    Moderate Sensory Sensitivity

  • 31-45

    High Sensory Sensitivity

  • 46-60

    Very High Sensory Sensitivity

0-15: Low Sensory Sensitivity

  • Interpretation: Your child exhibits low levels of sensory sensitivity, usually falling within the typical developmental range.
  • Recommendation: Generally not  a cause for concern. If you have specific worries or notice a sudden change in behavior, consult a healthcare professional for a comprehensive evaluation.

  • 0-15

    Low Sensory Sensitivity

  • 16-30

    Moderate Sensory Sensitivity

  • 31-45

    High Sensory Sensitivity

  • 46-60

    Very High Sensory Sensitivity

16-30: Moderate Sensory Sensitivity

  • Interpretation: Your child displays moderate sensory sensitivity, which may warrant intervention.
  • Recommendation: Consider sensory-friendly activities, sensory sensitive toys, or sensory sensitive clothing like noise-canceling headphones and weighted blankets to improve comfort. If symptoms persist, consult health care professionals.

  • 0-15

    Low Sensory Sensitivity

  • 16-30

    Moderate Sensory Sensitivity

  • 31-45

    High Sensory Sensitivity

  • 46-60

    Very High Sensory Sensitivity

31-45: High Sensory Sensitivity

  • Interpretation: Your child has higher than average sensory sensitivity that may interfere with daily functioning.
  • Recommendation: Seek a detailed evaluation by health care professionals for sensory integration therapy options and potential environmental modifications.

  • 0-15

    Low Sensory Sensitivity

  • 16-30

    Moderate Sensory Sensitivity

  • 31-45

    High Sensory Sensitivity

  • 46-60

    Very High Sensory Sensitivity

46-60: Very High Sensory Sensitivity

  • Interpretation: Your child demonstrates high levels of sensory sensitivity that could significantly interfere with daily life.
  • Recommendation: If your child displays this level of sensory sensitivity, it’s highly recommended that you consult with a health care professional for a multi-disciplinary assessment. You will probably be directed towards early intervention programs and specialized support.

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Related Posts

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Keywords

Diagnostic Tests
Special Needs
Parenting
Developmental Delays
Autism
ASD
Intellectual Disabilities
IDD
Learning Disabilities
Speech Delays
Motor Skills
ADHD
Testing
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