MATERNAL ESTIMATES OF DEVELOPMENTAL AGE IN PRESCHOOL-CHILDREN

Objective: To investigate the accuracy of maternal estimates of develo pmental age in preschool children with suspected developmental delay. Methods: In a sample of 139 preschool children, aged 5 to 60 months, m others were asked before evaluation to estimate the developmental age of their child. Maternal estimates were converted to a developmental q uotient (DQ) and compared with results from standardized tests of cogn itive functioning, adaptive abilities, expressive and receptive langua ge, 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). Mast mothers estimated within 15% of their child's actu al functioning, and 84% of mothers estimated within +/-5 months of act ual functioning. Multiple regression found no factors that would ident ify mothers who were more or less accurate in estimating developmental age. Maternal-estimate DQ was sensitive (83%) and specific (83%) for mental retardation. Conclusion: Maternal estimates provide an accurate measure of developmental functioning and could be successfully incorp orated into routine developmental surveillance of preschool children.