Ages & Stages Questionnaire

Title of Assessment
Ages & Stages Questionnaire – Third Edition (ASQ-3)

Author(s)

• Diane Bricker
  
  

• Jane Squires
  
  

Year of Publication/Publisher
2009, Paul H. Brookes Publishing Co., Inc.

Identify Type of Assessment
Screening tool; observation-based, questionnaire format; standardized and norm-referenced

Cost (identify source) & How to Access Assessment (include link if possible)

• Starter Kit: $295.00
  
  

• Materials Kit: $325.00
  
  

 https://agesandstages.com/products-pricing/asq3/#silk-tabs-0-0

Population (who it is appropriate for)
Children ages 1 month to 5 years, 6 months
Appropriate for children with suspected developmental delays, including concerns in motor skills, communication, and social development

Appropriate Settings

• Early intervention
  
  

• School-based
  
  

• Pediatric outpatient settings
  
  

Purpose of Assessment & Function(s)/Area(s) Assessed
The ASQ-3 is a developmental screening tool used to identify potential delays or concerns in young children. It includes 30 parent-completed questions organized into five key developmental domains:

• Communication
  
  

• Gross Motor
  
  

• Fine Motor
  
  

• Problem-Solving
  
  

• Personal-Social
  
  

This tool helps support early identification and referral to further evaluation or services if needed.

Administration

• Time: Takes 10–15 minutes for parents/caregivers to complete, and 2–3 minutes for professionals to score
  
  

• Format: Individual, not group-based
  
  

• Instructions: Clear directions are provided to standardize completion and scoring
  
  

• Flexibility: Can be completed during a clinic visit or at home by the parent
  
  

User Qualifications

• Training with the manual and from professionals who are experienced in using the tool is recommended
  
  

• Often administered or interpreted by occupational therapists, early intervention specialists, or pediatric professionals
  
  

Materials Required

• ASQ-3 Questionnaires
  
  

• ASQ-3 User’s Guide and Manual
  
  

• Writing utensil
  
  

• ASQ-3 Materials Kit (includes developmentally appropriate toys and tools to support specific tasks):
  
  

Kit includes items such as:

• Dolls with buttons/zippers
  
  

• Balls (small and large)
  
  

• Books (storybook and wordless)
  
  

• Crayons and coloring book
  
  

• Puzzles
  
  

• Child-safe scissors
  
  

• Shoelace and beads for threading
  
  

• Child-sized utensils (fork, spoon, cup)
  
  

• Small toys, keys, mirror
  
  

• Storage bag, instructions, and laminated materials list
  
  

Scoring Procedure
Each domain is scored based on parent responses:

• Yes = 10 points
  
  

• Sometimes = 5 points
  
  

• Not Yet = 0 points
  
  

Scores are totaled per domain and compared to established cutoff scores.

• Below cutoff: possible delay, further assessment needed
  
  

• Monitoring zone: borderline concerns, follow-up recommended
  
  

• Above cutoff: age-appropriate development
  
  

Psychometrics/Standardization

• Standardized on a sample of 15,138 children, representative of U.S. demographics
  
  

• Concurrent validity: 74% to 100% across age intervals (86% overall)
  
  

• Sensitivity: Ranges from 75% to 100% (86% overall)
  
  

• Specificity: Ranges from 70% to 100% (85% overall)
  
  

Strengths & Weaknesses of Assessment

Strengths

• Available in multiple languages: Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Spanish, and Vietnamese
  
  

• Quick and easy to complete and score
  
  

• Strengths-based and family-friendly format
  
  

• Encourages caregiver participation and observation
  
  

Weaknesses

• High initial cost for materials and kits
  
  

• Some families may need guidance to fully understand or complete the questionnaire accurately
  
  

References

Ages & Stages Questionnaires. (n.d.). ASQ-3. Paul H. Brookes Publishing Co., Inc. https://agesandstages.com/products-pricing/asq3/#silk-tabs-0-3  

Squires, J. & Bricker, D. (2009). ASQ-3 User’s Guide. Paul H. Brookes Publishing Co., Inc.