Review of Screening and Assessment Tools for Detecting Early Childhood Disabilities in Low and Middle-Income Countries Across the Asia-Pacific
摘要
This chapter reviews screening and assessment tools for early childhood disabilities (ages 0–6 years) used in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) across the Asia-Pacific region. Through analysis of 24 studies published between 2007 and 2023 in nine countries, the review examines various aspects of these tools, including their purpose, targeted disabilities, effectiveness, cost, ease of use, and cultural adaptability. Key findings reveal three major trends: The prevalence of Western-developed tools with increasing efforts in cultural and linguistic adaptions for use in LMICs across the Asia-Pacific region; the emergence of locally developed tools in countries such as India, Bangladesh, Cambodia, and Pakistan, and significant variations in psychometric rigor, cost, administration time, and training requirements across tools. While some instruments demonstrated robust reliability and validity, others lacked comprehensive psychometric data. This chapter highlighted progress and persistent gaps in screening and assessing early childhood disabilities across Asia-Pacific LMICs. It offered recommendations for future practice, research, and policymaking to improve the early identification of disabilities in this region.