Baby Bear Hugs Ages & Stages (ASQ) Protocol:

General information:

  • ASQ is a developmental screening (not a test).
  • Each child is unique and develops at different rates.
  • ASQ is designed to assess development from 2 months to 5 years. ASQ:SE assesses 6 months to 5 years.
  • Can be administered by parents or caregivers, but in the Baby Bear Hugs program, is a part of educating parents about child development so the preferred method of delivery is presenting it together with educator and parents.
  • Assessment instrument can be left with the family after scoring.
  • Score sheet goes into the child’s file.
  • Give appropriate Activity Sheets and/or refer to appropriate pages in the Learning Games books to help with certain developmental tasks that may have been questionable, noted as delays, or if the parent asks.
  • Always refer children to appropriate agency if there are delays (see below for specifics).

Protocol (summary):

  1. Begin administering the ASQ at 2 months. If not possible, or the family enters the program after the child is 2 months old, give the instrument as soon as the visitor has established trust with the family – after 3 or 4 visits.
  2. Begin administering the ASQ:SE at 6 months. If not possible, or the family enters the program after the child is 6 months old, give the instrument approximately 2 months after administering the ASQ.
  3. Choose the correct instrument for the child’s age. (If the child was 3 weeks or more premature, subtract the number of weeks the child was premature from their birth date.) An instrument may be used up to one month on either side of their birth date.
  4. Fill out the appropriate demographic information.
  5. Try, or have the parents try each activity with the child.
  6. If the child is uncooperative, or does not want to participate, try each activity up to 3 times and then give it an incomplete.
  7. Score the instrument appropriately.
  8. If the scoring shows any delays and there are no behavioral issues, refer the child.
  9. If the scoring shows delays, but the child was refusing to do the activities or there were distractions present, schedule another ASQ or ASQ:SE in 2 to 4 weeks. If there is any question – refer the child.
  10. If there were no delays schedule the child for their next ASQ or ASQ:SE in 4 to 6 months unless the parent is interested in more frequent intervals. Best practices encourages screening every 4 to 6 months especially for children younger than 3 years.

3/5/2014