PEDS is one of the most extensively evaluated parent completed tools. The tools currently used in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region are mainly translated from the globally used tools such as Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ), Denver Developmental Screening Test and Parents' Evaluation of Developmental Status (PEDS) ( 17). Many of their items may not be suitable for other cultures ( 15, 16), while others are expensive. Most of the available developmental screening tools have been developed in Western countries. However, screening for developmental delays in normal clinical practice is fraught with difficulties such as time limitations, shortage of required subspecialties for referral, limited training and confidence of physicians in managing children with developmental abnormalities, and difficulties in finding the perfect screening tool ( 10– 14). Developmental screening tools can accurately detect developmental delays ( 9). The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends regular screening for developmental disorders using a standardized tool at 9, 18, and 30 (or 24) months of age and at every well-child visit whenever concerns regarding the development are raised during surveillance ( 2). One of the main factors contributing to low detection rates is reliance on clinical judgment alone ( 7), which can miss up to 45% of eligible children for early intervention services ( 8). However, data from the United States revealed that only approximately one out of three children with developmental abnormalities are recognized prior to school age, while others do not benefit from early intervention services ( 4– 6). Early identification of developmental disorders should lead to a thorough evaluation, and hence proper early intervention ( 3). Disordered development and behavior affect about 12–16% of American children below 5 years of age ( 1, 2). Pediatricians and other primary care physicians frequently see children with abnormal development and behavior. The kappa measure showed substantial agreement in five age groups, a moderate agreement in one age group, and a fair agreement in one age group.Ĭonclusions: The DTDS is a valid screening tool for early identification of developmental delays and disabilities in early childhood.
Specificity ranged from 96 to 99% across all age groups. Results: The DTDS had a sensitivity of 100% in four age groups and 75–78% in the other three age groups. Sensitivity, specificity, and kappa agreement of the DTDS compared with PEDS were calculated. The DTDS and PEDS were administered cross-sectionally to parents of 1,400 children in seven age groups. Validation of the Dubai Tool for Developmental Screening (DTDS) was done against Parents' Evaluation of Developmental Status (PEDS) as a gold standard instrument.
Each time, the results were analyzed and used to select, modify, and rephrase questions. The selected milestones were used to create questionnaires in both English and Arabic, which were pilot tested twice. Methods: The available literature was used to create a list of developmental milestones in five domains for children aged 9–48 months, divided into seven age groups. Objective: To create and validate a developmental screening tool, in both English and Arabic, that is simple, quick to use, and culturally relevant to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) child population aged 9–48 months. Currently, none of the developmental screening tools have been validated in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), with only a few available in the Arabic language. Many of their items may not be suitable for other cultures while others are expensive. Standardized developmental screening tools are known to enhance detection rates of developmental problems compared to clinical judgment alone and are widely recommended to be used in infants and young children. 2Medical Affairs Department, Primary Health Care Sector, Dubai Health Authority, Dubai, United Arab Emiratesīackground: Early detection of developmental problems is vital for facilitating early access to targeted intervention and augmenting its beneficial outcomes.1Child Health Section, Specialized Programs Services Department, Primary Health Care Sector, Dubai Health Authority, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.Fatma Mohammad Alolama 1 * †, Haitham Mahmoud Mohammad 1 †, Idris Helal Alhmid 1 and Hanan Mohammed Alhammadi 2