What is the purpose of proper screening in child development?

• A. To determine the correct referral and intervention through sound assessment
• B. To randomly refer
• C. To delay intervention
• D. To assess only physical health

Answer: (A)

Screening in child development is about quickly flagging children who may have developmental concerns and guiding what happens next. It uses validated tools and careful observations to decide whether a child should be referred for a comprehensive evaluation and what kinds of intervention might help. This is not a diagnosis; it’s a step to connect families with the right specialists and services so support can begin as early as possible. For example, spotting a potential language delay through screening would lead to a referral to a speech-language pathologist to determine specific needs and plan targeted help. It isn’t about random referrals, delaying intervention, or examining only physical health—the goal is to screen across multiple areas (language, cognition, motor, social-emotional) so needed supports can be put in place promptly.