As a private practitioner with some interest in periodic, standardized preschool developmental screening, I appreciated the recent position statement on this subject (Pediatrics, May 1994) by the Committee on Children with Disabilities.
At least in my locale, it doesn't seem to me that we practicing pediatricians (myself included) have exactly covered ourselves with glory with respect to this important area of health supervision. Thus, perhaps pediatricians may benefit from "regular," "periodic," "formal" American Academy of Pediatrics reminders that inaccurate developmental assessments may deny preschool children needed (and now often publicly funded) early intervention and special education services.
