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

Psychological evaluation instruments (test) 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 example., is an instrument designed to evaluate and measure psychomotor skills, as well as physical and intellectual development in children. It is applicable to 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.

• Related article: "Types of psychological tests: their functions and characteristics"

What is the Denver test?

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

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

This can translate into a benefit for the evaluated subject, since Even if you have limitations in a specific area, the test will also show where your strengths are.; allows the evaluator to have a broader picture of the particular situation of the individual.

Another of the benefits of the Denver test is that it allows specialists determine the degree of maturation of the Central Nervous System (CNS) since the development in physical, motor and intellectual abilities is a faithful reflection of the development of said system.

This tool was designed based on the standards of children with adequate maturation in terms of the areas evaluated by the test; With this, clear scales are established regarding said abilities and the evolutionary development in infants.

In other words, it allows corroborating whether the development is taking place correctly taking into account the population average. Besides this It is efficient for tracking subjects, and could be applied after a while to determine progress on the case.

• You may be interested in: "The 6 stages of childhood (physical and mental development)"

What exactly does this test measure?

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

1. personal social area

allows to measure the relationship of the boy or girl in terms of the environment that surrounds him or her; that is to say, the way in which it develops within the sphere of the social.

2. fine motor area

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

3. language area

This part of the test is responsible for determining how is the language learning process in the child, as well as their listening skills, and communication in general terms.

4. gross motor area

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

Application method of this test

Now let's 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 trusts us and remains calm.

It must be carried out in a controlled environment, where there are no unforeseen interruptions. The application is individual, and to help the child feel calm and confident, the ideal is for parents or caregivers to be present during the application process.

Despite the fact that the instrument consists of 55 reactive items, as we mentioned before, the child should answer only those that are to the left of the line of his age.

initial step

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

second step

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

• Verify that the child carries out the tasks that correspond to him.
• Check if the child omits to perform a task that 90% of children his age do.
• Notice if the child stops doing a task but she still has time to do it later, which is atypical in the population of this age.
• In case the child does not want to collaborate, it will be tried in the next session.

Necessary materials

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

• Yarn balls.
• Bell.
• Tennis ball.
• marbles.
• Rattle.
• Bottle with screw cap.
• Graphite pencil.
• 8 cubes of 23 mm.

Data interpretation

Taking into account that this it is not an intelligence test, children should be avoided in this regard. We will only take care of reviewing and evaluating if they comply with the activities that the population average 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.

Personal factors of the child at the time of application should be taken into account, such as whether she slept well the the night before, if he has eaten well before the session, or if he seems anxious and scared during the process of assessment.

Bibliographic 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.; Gwyn, H. (2007). Improving developmental screening: Combining parent and pediatrician opinions with standardized questionnaires. Pediatrics. 119: 655–56.