How ASQ Works

What You Need to Start Screening

• All you need to start is The ASQ User’s Guide and a master set of 19 questionnaires.

• 		The questionnaires are very flexible and fit the needs of various programs. For example: Medical practitioners may use the 6–, 12-, and 18-month questionnaires that correspond to well-child visits. Public health providers may use the 4– and 8–month questionnaires that correspond to home visiting schedules. Head Start programs may be most interested in the 48–month questionnaire. Toddler programs may choose to use the 12–, 14–, 16–, 18–, 20–, 22–, 24–, 27–, and 30–month questionnaires.

  Questionnaires come in English, Spanish, French, and Korean. You can choose a boxed set of master questionnaires on paper for each language you need, or you can get them in PDF format on CD-ROM (English and Spanish only).
• The questionnaires and the letters, forms, and activities in The ASQ User’s Guide may be photocopied at no additional charge.

Screen with ASQ in 3 Simple Steps

1. Select the questionnaire that matches the child's age and mail it home, take it on a home visit, or give it to the parent to fill out in a waiting area.
2. The parent answers the questions, such as Does your baby pick up a crumb or Cheerio with the tips of his thumb and a finger? The parent answers yes, sometimes, or not yet then moves on to the next item. This process takes about 10–15 minutes.
3. Once the parent completes the questionnaire, follow the simple formula for transfering the answers to the scoring sheet. This takes about 2 minutes.

See the 3 steps in action with an actual questionnaire (PDF) >>

Once You Have the Scores

Now compare the child's scores in each of the five developmental areas to the cutoff points listed on the scoring sheet.

Scores beneath the cutoff points indicate a need for further assessment; scores near the cutoff points call for discussion and monitoring; and scores above the cutoff suggest the child is on track developmentally.

Communicate the screening results to the child's parents, and suggest resources for follow-up or further assessment if needed.

Use ASQ Companion Materials to Enhance Your Program

These materials enhance and complement your use of ASQ:

• Ages & Stages Questionnaires®: Social-Emotional (ASQ:SE)
  Conduct social-emotional screening with ASQ:SE, a system that works just like ASQ but focuses exclusively on social-emotional development | more info
• Ages & Stages Learning Activities
  Provide parents with activities that will help them encourage their children's development across developmental areas | more info
• Ages & Stages Questionnaires® on a Home Visit
  A training video that shows you how to use ASQ on home visits | more info
• Ages & Stages Questionnaires® Scoring and Referral
  A training video on how to score the ASQ questionnaires and make referrals for in-depth assessment | more info
• Ages & Stages Questionnaires®: Social-Emotional in Practice
  A training video that shows how to use and score ASQ:SE questionnaires | more info
• Ages & Stages Questionnaires® Manager
  Score and manage ASQ questionnaires on your PC | more info