title: Maternal estimates of developmental age in preschool children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the accuracy of maternal estimates of developmental age in preschool children with suspected developmental delay.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a sample of 139 preschool children, aged 5 to 60 months, mothers were asked before evaluation to estimate the developmental age of their child. Maternal estimates were converted to a developmental quotient (DQ) and compared with results from standardized tests of cognitive functioning, adaptive abilities, expressive and receptive language, and visual-motor skills.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A high correlation was found (r = 0.82; p < 0.0001) between maternal-estimate DQ and actual DQ (mean of test scores). Most mothers estimated within 15% of their child's actual functioning, and 84% of mothers estimated within +/- 5 months of actual functioning. Multiple regression found no factors that would identify mothers who were more or less accurate in estimating developmental age. Maternal-estimate DQ was sensitive (83%) and specific (83%) for mental retardation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Maternal estimates provide an accurate measure of developmental functioning and could be successfully incorporated into routine developmental surveillance of preschool children.
authors.affiliation: Department of Developmental Pediatrics, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, Maryland 21205.
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Pulsifer
authors.forename: A H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Hoon
authors.forename: F B
authors.initials: FB
authors.lastname: Palmer
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gopalan
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Capute
mesh_terms: D002657:Child Development; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009035:Mothers; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods