Parental assessment of developmental delay in children: some limitations and hazards.
According to a study published in the present issue of Acta Paediatrica, mothers' reports of developmental delays in children of preschool age were associated with socio-economic factors.


CONCLUSIONS
For the present, developmental screening procedures using parental assessments cannot be considered evidence based. National health service systems ensuring preventive health care for all children, regardless of socio-economic background, will form a more solid basis for early detection and treatment.
Lagerberg
Dagmar
D
Department of Women's and Children's Health, Section for Paediatrics, Uppsala University, Children's Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden. dagmar.lagerberg@kbh.uu.se
D002675:Child, Preschool; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D010290:Parents; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012449:Safety; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors