Developmental Screening and ASQ

As a parent, you know your child’s strengths and weaknesses better than anyone. Parenting has taught you how to trust your instincts. Still, sometimes you have moments of uncertainty. How do you know when your concerns are something you need to act on?

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Help Me Grow Developmental Screening

Developmental screening is an important tool. Screenings can give you greater insight into your child’s personality and lead you to a better understanding of his or her development.

Ages & Stages Questionnaire (ASQ)

The Ages & Stages Questionnaire (ASQ) is a reliable questionnaire that is completed by you, the parent, and provides a picture of your child’s progress in different areas of development. Your responses to the questionnaire can guide you in ways to encourage your child’s growth, including specific activities to do with your child.

ASQ can be used with children from age one month to 5 ½ years; questions differ depending on your child’s age. Each set of questions focuses on your child’s development in the areas of:

Communication
Gross motor
Fine motor
Problem-solving
Personal-social

ASQ:SE is an additional questionnaire that measures how your child manages his or her emotions and relationships. ASQ and ASQ:SE can be used together to give you a more well-rounded view of your child’s development.

Toddler stands with a red ring toy around her arm. Her family is out of focus in the background.

How does ASQ work?

Each ASQ questionnaire has 30 screening questions that take approximately 10-15 minutes to complete. Parents complete the questionnaires themselves, with help available from Early Childhood staff at the Collaborative or at your local family center.

Questionnaires are scored by Early Childhood or family center staff, who will then schedule a follow-up conversation to review the results, identify developmental areas that may need additional work, and suggest activities that can support your child’s development in those areas.

ASQ can also help you and the Early Childhood staff person identify behaviors that are of concern. Staff can suggest additional screenings or service referrals based on ASQ results.

If you are interested in developmental screening for your child, there are a number of ways to start the process of using ASQ.

Contact the Early Childhood Department by phone or email (details below)
Contact any Coordinated Family and Community Engagement office in your area. Search for CFCE programs in your community by clicking here: http://www.eec.state.ma.us/ChildCareSearch/CFCE.aspx
Contact a family center. To find a local family center, visit our Family Centers page.