Please note: In 2003, the CTF updated its Grades of Recommendations to include an "I Recommendation" for situations where insufficient evidence exists to allow a recommendation to be made.  (Formerly, these situations were captured under a "C Recommendation".)  This change is not retroactive, and all "C Recommendations" made prior to 2003 have not been reevaluated in light of the new "I" recommendation grade.  For a discussion of these recommendation grades, please link to the 2003 article in the Canadian Medical Association Journal here.

Preschool Screening for Developmental Problems

Prepared by John W. Feightner, MD, MSc, FCFP, Deaprtment of Family Medicine, The University of Western Ontario


 
MANEUVER EFFECTIVENESS LEVEL OF EVIDENCE <REF> RECOMMENDATION
Denver Developmental Scale Early detection of developmental problems followed by educational intervention did not improve school performance but increased parental anxiety. Randomized controlled trials <15> (I) Fair evidence to exclude from periodic health examination of children aged 3-5 years. (D) 
Other detection tools* Other evidence regarding benefits of early detection and treatment of cognitive and behavioural problems remains controversial. Nonrandomized controlled trial <16> (II-1); before-after comparison <17,18> (II-3) Insufficient evidence to include in or exclude from periodic health examination of children aged 3-5 years. (C)

* Other detection tools include: the Developmental indicators for the Assessment of Learning, the Early Screening Inventory, the Minneapolis Preschool Screening Instrument, the McCarthy Screening Test and the Jansky Screening Index.