Detecting and addressing developmental and behavioral problems in primary care

Pediatric primary care clinicians usually offer a range of in-office services designed to detect and address developmental and behavioral problems. Research suggests that selecting among these services is difficult because fewer than 30% of children with disabilities are detected by their health care providers. Undetected children fail to receive early intervention, which has substantive benefits in improving high school graduation and employment rates, and reducing teen pregnancy and criminal activities. Fortunately, many recently published tools help detect the majority of children with problems. Measures relying on information from parents are flexible, brief, and accurate. One of the briefest tools. Parents' Evaluation of Developmental Status (PEDS), also offers an evidenced-based approach that helps clinicians decide when to refer, screen, advise, or reassure families or observe children more carefully over time.