What is a Developmental Screen?
A "Developmental Screen" is a short checklist of some of the most important skills that a child should master by a particular age. A Developmental Screen is not a diagnostic tool and it is not meant to be a formal assessment of the child's skills -- but rather a quick survey to determine any areas that may require some extra help.

Why do we screen children’s development?
The primary reason to administer Developmental Screens is to identify those children who may need some extra help with learning age-appropriate skills. It is understood that early intervention has a positive effect on the child's development, behavior and later school performance. (Wolraich, 1996; Butler 1998).

What are the benefits of developmental screening?
The Screens help parents:

• Learn about their child's development
• Recognize their child's skills and abilities
• Identify developmental areas that may need extra attention
• Plan intervention strategies, including referrals to qualified professionals, if required
• Promote early identification

Is the NDDS appropriate for different cultures?
The test items are sensitive to the varying cultural values in child rearing and allow for alternate experiences. Some items have been marked with an asterisk to indicate the item may not be common to all cultures. In some situations, developmental differences may reflect the culturally based experiences that the child has had, rather than indicate a delay. In these situations it is important to respect the family’s culture. Discussion with the family may provide a teaching opportunity, but not necessitate a referral.

Speech and language skills are specific to a child’s first language. Caution must be taken when interpreting “no” responses when the Screen administered is not in the child’s first language. It may be necessary to seek the advice of a speech-language pathologist. Our Screen has the advantage of being informal with the flexibility to choose more culturally relevant examples and situations.

I thought I was always supposed to put my baby on his back. Why is the NDDS telling me to put him on his tummy?
Though care providers are told to put babies on their backs to sleep, it is important for babies to have playtime on their tummies. This is how they strengthen their muscles and learn to hold their heads up. Of course, babies need to be supervised during play.

My 15-month baby says num-num and brmm-brmm, are these real words?
Yes, these are consistent utterances that are recognized by adults most familiar with the baby. E.g. “ba-ba” for bottle, “num-num” for food.

Can you explain item 17 on the two year old screen?
Use skills already learned and develop new ones: Children build on skills they already have. It warrants further investigation if a child stops using words that they have mastered, or shows an increase in tripping and falling, or stops walking when he/she has been able to walk. Any loss of skills should be discussed with a healthcare professional.

Is the NDDS available in other languages?
The Screens are currently available in English, French, Spanish, Chinese and Vietnamese. The Validity Testing has been completed in both English and French. Check out Evaluation for more information.

How was the NDDS Developed?
It was developed by a multi-disciplinary group who shared an interest in identifying and accommodating children in need as early as possible. For more information please click on History.

How are the activity sheets to be used?
The “Activities for Your Baby/Child” section is intended to provide parents and other caregivers with information and activities to enhance their infant or child’s development. Each activity is coded with an icon to represent a primary area of development. If parents have questions or concerns about the appropriateness of any activity for their infant or child they should contact a healthcare or childcare professional.

Can the Screens and activities be photocopied?
Blank Screens and activity sheets cannot be reproduced in any form.
The NDDS is licensed and protected by copyright laws and international copyright treaty. Purchase or other use of the Screen indicates agreement to be bound by the terms of the Product License. Therefore, blank Screens and activity sheets cannot be reproduced in any form. However, a completed Screen may be photocopied to be placed in a child’s file or chart. Check out Legal Copyright for more information.

Do we adjust the Screen for prematurity?
The Board of Directors of the Nipissing District Developmental Screen  has undertaken a review of the items on the Screen because of new research and best practices that have been published and adopted since our last revision in 2000. The newly revised product will be released once new validity and reliability studies are completed. Our hope is that at the end of this process we will be able to offer families in Ontario an even better tool for monitoring their child’s development!  In addition, evidence based practice advises the close monitoring of premature infants as “high risk” therefore to correct for prematurity or not would be based on your current clinical practice.

Are there Pervasive Developmental Disorders / Autism indicator’s included on the Screen?
The NDDS is not intended for diagnosing any condition including Pervasive Developmental Disorders / Autism. It is intended to identify children with delays in any area of development. There are items built into the Screen that should prompt further investigation.

What areas of development are being checked?
• Gross motor (large muscle)
• Fine motor (small muscle)
• Vision
• Hearing
• Communication, speech and language
• Social-emotional
• Self-help skills
• Cognitive skills

To find out more about these areas of development visit Activities in this website.

What is the correct way to administer the NDDS with families?
The Screens can be administered in a variety of ways such as:
• Face-to-face with a parent
• Over the phone with a parent
• At a doctor's office or well-baby clinic
• By mail out - make sure there is a contact number for a person or program for follow-up
• As part of a registration package at a daycare
• As part of a service provider's intake package

How do I explain the NDDS to parents?
The Screen is often explained as a quick and easy checklist of skills typically observed in children of this age. It requires a “yes” or “no” answer and it will help to identify whether or not your child is developing as expected.

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