What is the best way to screen English language learners? Should they be screened in English or should teachers translate the questionnaire into the child's home language?
Because you want the optimal performance from the child, if a child has difficulty understanding English, you should use his or her native language if possible. ASQ-3 measures all developmental domains and is not designed as an measurement of English skills. So, for the 42 month questionnaire, item 1 in Fine Motor me…
If a child was born at a gestational age of 34 weeks and 5 days, how many weeks premature is the child?
The ASQ developers used 39 weeks as a full-term pregnancy in their research and data analyses. In your example, the child's gestational age is rounded up to 35 weeks. 35 weeks is subtracted from 39 weeks (a full-term pregnancy) so the child is 4 weeks premature. However, if your program uses 40 weeks as a full-term …
In what setting can ASQ-3 questionnaires be completed?
With online questionnaire completion through ASQ Family Access, parents are able to complete ASQ-3 anytime, anywhere. The questionnaires can also be completed on paper at home; during home visits by nurses, social workers, or program staff; in waiting areas; or in educational centers. ASQ-3 can be adapted to a variet…
Is there data that shows that use of ASQ-3 improves children's development?
ASQ-3 is a screening tool. It checks a child's development and detects developmental issues that need follow-up. Use of ASQ-3 alone does not directly improve child development, especially for children with delays. If ASQ-3 is used as part of a comprehensive system that includes appropriate follow-up assessment and pr…
What should take the place of an ASQ-3 for a 30-month-old with suspected autism that is already receiving multiple therapies through early intervention?
If a child is already receiving therapies through early intervention, use of a screening tool like ASQ-3 is not needed. A curriculum-based assessment tool can be used to determine a child’s current level of functioning, identify goals, and monitor progress. Examples of curriculum-based assessments include the Assess…
My program conducts screenings with children who come from Spanish-speaking homes but are currently residing in an English only speaking home at the time of screening. When would you recommend bringing an interpretor to the home to complete a questionnaire? Prior to 9 months of age, do you think an interpretor would be needed?
Best practices for screening children with linguistically diverse backgrounds depends on many individual circumstances, including the English language skills of the child. If there is any doubt about whether the child understands English, the ASQ developers recommend that an interpretor be used. It is also important …
Is there a letter that I can send with the questionnaire to parents to explain the program?
Yes, we have sample letters to help you introduce your screening program and the ASQ questionnaires to parents. Please visit our Parent Communication page for these letters. You are welcome to edit the sample letters to work for your program. These sample letters are also included in the appendix of the User’s Gui…
Is ASQ-3 approved by an IRB?
An institutional review board (IRB) is a committee that reviews the methods proposed for research to ensure that they are ethical. Each reserach study needs to be individually approved with an institution's specific IRB. A tool, such as ASQ-3, is not granted blanket approval to be used in research studies. Numerous I…
Can you provide a statement or report that says ASQ-3 is evidence-based for vision and hearing screening?
ASQ-3 is not an evidence-based vision or hearing screening tool. ASQ-3 can indicate the need for further assessment in those areas, but it does not meet the guidelines as a vision or hearing screening tool.
Our early childhood center has new children start each September. How soon should we use the ASQ with these children?
Your program can use the Ages & Stages Questionnaires as soon as you’d like with children and their parents. Many programs have parents complete the questionnaires at the beginning of the year so the teachers have an idea of the child’s skills. If teachers will be completing the questionnaires, instead of parents, th…
