For Families
Facts About Screening
What is screening?
- Screening is collecting information to see if there is an issue, even if there was no special reason to be worried. Everyone should do it.
- Questions about health, behavior or development is one kind of screening. Blood tests and other physical exams are another kind of screening.
- Screening questionnaires have been heavily tested and are great at detecting issues. They enhance the questioning that a doctor or nurse ask on their own.
- Screening is not about parenting skills; all children have the possibility for issues and all children should be screened.
Why do screening?
- Screening helps your doctor be sure your child is developing on schedule.
- Screening helps catch issues early, when treatment is usually more effective.
- Your doctor may identify a problem and refer your child for services that may help overcome issues.
- What happens without screening?
- Without screening, problems may go unnoticed until later when they are more difficult to treat successfully.
- Children who start school with issues that were not addressed are more likely to fall behind.