Purpose
The purpose of the BDI-3 is to assess developmental milestones in children from birth to 7 years, 11 months. It helps identify delays, determine eligibility for early intervention or special education, and guide individualized support planning.
Title of Assessment:
Battelle Developmental Inventory, Third Edition (BDI-3)
Author(s):
Jean Newborg and colleagues
Year of Publication/Publisher:
2020, Riverside Insights
Identify Type of Assessment:
Standardized, norm-referenced, curriculum-based developmental assessment tool
Cost (identify source) & How to Access:
Full Kit (Complete): ~$1,297.76
Screening Kit: ~$482.37
Early Academic Survey Kit: ~$306.08
Digital Access Key: ~$180 annually per user
Available through Riverside Insights: https://riversideinsights.com/battelle_3e
Population (who it is appropriate for [age, diagnosis, etc.]):
Children from birth to 7 years, 11 months
Appropriate for children with or at risk for developmental delays, including cognitive, motor, language, and adaptive concerns
Appropriate Settings (potential practice settings appropriate to administer assessment in):
Early Intervention Programs
Preschool and Early Childhood Centers
School Systems
Outpatient Clinics
Hospitals
Research Settings
Purpose of Assessment & Function(s)/Area(s) Assessed:
The BDI-3 is used to identify developmental delays, support eligibility for early intervention and special education services, and guide individualized program planning.
It assesses five developmental domains:
Adaptive
Social–Emotional
Communication
Motor
Cognitive
Administration:
Time: 60–90 minutes for full version; 30–60 minutes for screening
Format: Individually administered; includes structured observation, parent/caregiver interviews, and direct assessment
Subtests: Domains can be administered independently
Standardization: Clear protocols and instructions are provided to ensure reliability and consistency
User Qualifications:
Requires administration by qualified professionals such as occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, school psychologists, or early childhood specialists trained in assessment
Materials Required:
Examiner’s Manual
Test Item Book
Manipulatives Kit
Scoring Sheets or Digital Platform (Riverside Score or Mobile Data Solution app)
Scoring Procedure (how is assessment scored and what does score indicate):
Raw scores are converted into standard scores, percentile ranks, developmental quotients, age equivalents, and developmental delays.
Automated digital scoring systems calculate:
Developmental Quotients (DQ)
Standard Scores
Relative Developmental Index (RDI)
Change Sensitive Scores (CSS)
Psychometrics/Standardization (norms, reliability/validity studies):
Normed on a nationally representative sample of 2,500 children from birth to 7:11 years
High internal consistency (.92–.97)
Test-retest reliability: .79–.87
Inter-rater reliability: .82–.97
Demonstrated concurrent and construct validity with tools such as Bayley-III, WPPSI-IV, and PLS-5
Strengths & Weaknesses of Assessment:
Strengths:
Comprehensive coverage of developmental domains
Suitable for diverse populations including bilingual children
Strong psychometric support
Digital scoring system improves efficiency and accuracy
Useful for both diagnostic and progress-monitoring purposes
Weaknesses:
High cost of materials and scoring access
Time-consuming to administer full version
Requires extensive examiner training
Transition from BDI-2 to BDI-3 may involve a learning curve
References
Riverside Insights. (2023). BDI-3 Pricing Sheet. https://info.riversideinsights.com/hubfs/2025%20BDI-3%20Pricing%20Sheet.pdf
Riverside Insights. (2020). BDI-3: Battelle Developmental Inventory, 3rd Edition. https://riversideinsights.com/battelle_3e
Nelson Assessment. (2021). BDI-3 Brochure. https://pages.nelson.com/assessment/pdf/BDI3_Brochure.pdf