Use of the Israeli standardized Denver Developmental Screening Test in the maternal and child health services-assessment of its predictive value

: The translated version of the Denver Developmental Screening Test (DDST) for screening a total population of infants at 6 months of age was used in the Maternal and Child Health Services of the Department of Social Medicine. The failure rate was 18%. In subsequent birth cohorts, the Israeli Standardized Denver Developmental Screening Test (IDDST) was applied, and the failure rate was 3%. The results of 176 infants tested with the IDDST were transcribed on the DDST forms. Sensitivity and predictive values were appraised in relation to the developmental quotient (DQ) at age 2 as assessed by the Brunet-Lezine Developmental Test. Using a cutoff point of 2 SD below the mean DQ as the criterion, sensitivity and predictive value were 25 and 13%, respectively. The sensitivity and predictive value of the IDDST increased when the cutoff point was changed to -1 SD. The biserial correlation coefficient between the DDST at 6 months of age and the DQ score at 2 years was 0.37 and that between the IDDST and the DQ was 0.28. The predictive value of infant tests and the need for reevaluation of the IDDST for 6-month-old infants is discussed.