Using the PEDS Test at Home

Attention parents: your child’s pediatrician of family physician needs your help! In order to accurately detect development and behavior concerns in children, health professionals in Delaware are encouraged to use a screening tool called PEDS (Parents’ Evaluation of Developmental Status) Online. While only your baby’s doctor can officially diagnose these types of disorders, parents are the experts regarding their own children’s behavior.  PEDS Online can bring your observations to the physician’s attention before your visit, leading to a rewarding well-child visit experience.

Currently, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that developmental and behavioral screen should be conducted at 9, 18 and 30 month well child visits. However, it has been found that pediatricians miss such delays in 70% of cases when they rely solely on their own clinical judgment. This is where you come in.

The PEDS test puts the parent in the “driver’s seat”. It is a tool completed by you about what you know best: your baby. By understanding the importance of developmental screening and knowing how to properly complete the PEDS test, you will prompt your physician to identify any delays early and link you to vital services. The success of this tool and your baby’s health is dependent on you!

The PEDS test can be completed either online or on paper.  The test consists of ten multiple choice and open-ended questions about your child’s behavior and development. There are also spaces for additional comments to ensure that you can give your doctor the most specific information as possible. The more specific information you are able to give, the easier it will be for your baby’s doctor to provide a solution.

Not only can PEDS Online shorten the length of your child’s well visit, but the test has been found to be just as accurate as other screening methods. Early detection and intervention has been shown to improve long term academic and behavioral outcomes of all children. By working with your baby’s pediatrician, you can make sure that your baby is receiving the best possible care.

For more information, talk to your doctor- ask about developmental screening, dial 2-1-1 for Help Me Grow, or send a text message to 302-231-1464.