Which developmental screening instrument is commonly used to identify delays in children in primary care?

• A. Denver Developmental Screening Test II (Denver II).
• B. WeeFIM.
• C. Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales.
• D. PHQ-9.

Answer: (A)

Screening for developmental delays in primary care relies on a brief, multi-domain tool that can be quickly used during a well-child visit. The Denver Developmental Screening Test II is designed for exactly that setting: it screens children from birth to about six years across four domains—personal-social, fine motor-adaptive, language, and gross motor—and flags children who may have a delay, guiding a need for more comprehensive follow-up assessment.

Its popularity in pediatric practice comes from being relatively quick to administer, straightforward to score, and specifically intended for routine screening rather than diagnosis. If a child is flagged, clinicians can proceed with a more in-depth evaluation or refer for early intervention services.

In contrast, WeeFIM measures functional independence and is typically used in rehabilitation or discharge planning, not as a general primary-care screen. The Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales provide a detailed assessment of adaptive behaviors and are more time-consuming and usually used for diagnostic or eligibility purposes rather than quick screening in busy clinics. The PHQ-9 is a depression screen designed for adults (or older adolescents) and does not assess developmental milestones in children.