The predictive value of the ages and stages questionnaire in late infancy for low average cognitive ability at age 5

• Published in: Acta Paediatrica Vol. 111; no. 6; pp. 1194 - 1200
• Main Authors: Bowe, Andrea K., Hourihane, Jonathan, Staines, Anthony, Murray, Deirdre M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Norway Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.06.2022; John Wiley and Sons Inc
• Subjects: Age; ages and stages questionnaire; Child; Child Development; Child, Preschool; Children; Cognition; Cognitive ability; Developmental Disabilities - diagnosis; early child development; early intervention; Humans; Infant; Intelligence; Intelligence tests; Kaufman brief intelligence test; Longitudinal Studies; Original; Original & Brief Reports; Questionnaires; Retrospective Studies; Surveys and Questionnaires; ages and stages questionnaire; cognitive ability; early intervention; early child development; Kaufman brief intelligence test
• ISSN: 0803-5253; 1651-2227
• DOI: 10.1111/apa.16309

Aim This retrospective, longitudinal study examined the predictive value of the ages and stages questionnaire (ASQ) in late infancy for identifying children who progressed to have low cognitive ability at 5 years of age. Methods The ASQ was performed on 755 participants from the Irish BASELINE birth cohort at 24 or 27 months of age. Intelligence quotient was measured at age 5 with the Kaufmann Brief Intelligence Test, Second Edition, and low cognitive ability was defined as a score more than 1 standard deviation below the mean. The ASQ’s predictive value was examined, together with other factors associated with low cognitive ability at 5 years. Results When the ASQ was performed at 24 or 27 months, the overall sensitivity for identifying low cognitive ability at 5 years was 20.8% and the specificity was 91.1%. Using a total score cut‐off point increased the sensitivity to 46.6% and 71.4% at 24 and 27 months, but specificity fell to 74.1% and 67.2%, respectively. After adjusting for ASQ performance, maternal education and family income were strongly associated with cognitive outcomes at 5 years. Conclusion The ASQ did not detect the majority of children with low cognitive ability at age 5. Alternative methods need investigation.