Denver test: what it is and how to use this evaluation instrument.

A psychological test applied to the assessment of children's development.

Psychological assessment instruments (tests) are classified in several ways. Among these criteria we can consider what we want to measure, since we must apply a test that allows us to evaluate exactly what we need.

The Denver test, for exampleis an instrument designed to evaluate and measure psychomotor, as well as physical and intellectual development in children. It is applicable in children up to 6 years of age.

In this article we will talk about the characteristics of this test, we will see what it allows to measure, and we will also review the method of application and correction of this psychological test.

What is the Denver test?

The Denver test has as its main objective to measure the physical, intellectual and psychomotor development skills of children, to determine if these are in accordance with their chronological age or if there is a developmental delay in one of these areas.The main objective of the Denver test is to measure the physical, intellectual and psychomotor development of children, to determine if these are in accordance with their chronological age or if on the contrary there is some delay in the development in one of these areas. It could also happen that responses that are above the population average for children in that age range are evidenced.

Depending on the results obtained by the infant, then the specialist proceeds to generate a personalized treatment plan for that child taking into account their individual capabilities.

This can translate into a benefit for the subject being evaluated, since even if he/she has limitations in a specific area, the test will also show where his/her strengths lie.This allows the evaluator to have a broader picture of the individual's particular situation.

Another of the benefits of the Denver test is that it allows specialists to determine the degree of maturation of the Central Nervous System (CNS). determine the degree of maturation of the Central Nervous System (CNS), since the development of physical, motor and intellectual since the development of physical, motor and intellectual skills is a true reflection of the development of this system.

This tool was designed based on the standards of children with an adequate maturation in the areas evaluated by the test, thus establishing clear scales in terms of these skills and the evolutionary development of infants.

In other words, it allows to corroborate if the development is taking place in a correct way taking into account the population average. In addition to this is efficient to follow up on the subjects, and could be applied at the end of theIt could be applied after a period of time to determine the progress of the case.

What exactly does this test measure?

The Denver test is designed on the basis of four specific areas, which are divided into 55 reactive items. Let's see how this works.

1. Personal social area

It allows measuring the child's relationship with the environment that surrounds him or her, i.e. the way in which he or shethat is to say, the way in which the child develops within the social environment.

2. Fine motor skills area

This area focuses on the level of precision that an infant can have, evaluating exactly the fine movements, which involve concentration, coordination, and subtle manual skills. For example, drawing or writing.

3. Language area

This part of the test is in charge of determining how the child's language learning process is progressing, as well as the child'sThis part of the test determines the child's language learning process, as well as his or her listening and communication skills in general terms.

4. Gross motor area

Unlike fine motor skills, gross motor skills represent all those movements of a more imprecise nature, which involve a greater degree of coordination of the whole body. For example, painting a picture or throwing a baseball.

Method of application of this test

Now let us see what is the correct way to apply the Denver test in our child population. First of all, rapport must be established with the child, so that he/she trusts the test.The first step is to establish rapport with the child, so that he/she trusts us and remains calm.

It should be done in a controlled environment, where there are no unexpected interruptions. The application is of an individual nature, and to help the child feel calm and confident, parents or caregivers should ideally be present during the application process.

Although the instrument consists of 55 reactive items, as mentioned above, the child should answer only those to the left of his or her age line..

Initial Step

The evaluator will draw a line connecting the four scales of the instrument with the chronological age of the infant (fine motor, gross motor, language, and social area).

Second step

It is necessary to carefully observe the subject during the response process and take note of the significant aspects during the time it takes to answer the test, which would be the following:

• Verify that the child carries out the tasks that correspond to him/her..
• Verify if the child omits to perform a task that 90% of children his age do.
• To notice if the child stops doing a task but still has time to do it again. but still has time to do it later, which is atypical for this age population.
• If the child does not want to cooperate, try again at the next session.

Materials needed

These are the materials necessary for a correct application of the Denver test.. If you do not have exactly those mentioned below, you can replace the missing one with another of the same characteristics.

• Balls of thread.
• Bell.
• Tennis ball.
• Marbles.
• Rattle.
• Flask with screw cap.
• Graphite pencil.
• 8 cubes of 23 mm.

Interpretation of the data

Bearing in mind that this is not a test of intelligenceWe should avoid classifying the children in this aspect. We will only check and evaluate if they comply with the activities that the average population of children of their age are capable of doing.

Based on that and taking into account the specifications of the manual, the specialists issue a diagnostic impression.

The child's personal factors should be taken into account at the time of application, such as whether he/she slept well the night before, if he/she has eaten well prior to the session, or if he/she feels anxious and scared during the evaluation process.

Bibliographical references:

• Borowitz, K.C.; Glascoe, F.P. (1986). Sensitivity of the Denver Developmental Screening Test in Speech and Language Screening. Pediatrics. 78: 1075-1078.
• Lipkin, P.H.; Gwynn, H. (2007). Improving developmental screening: Combining parent and pediatrician opinions with standardized questionnaires. Pediatrics. 119: 655-56.