How to Use This Page
You do not need to review every screener listed below. Families, caregivers, educators, and professionals may choose tools that best match their current concerns (for example, attention, language, anxiety, or learning).
These screening tools are intended as starting points to help identify areas that may benefit from further evaluation, monitoring, or support. Results should always be interpreted in context and discussed with a qualified professional when concerns are identified.
Who Can Benefit
Whether you're a parent, provider, or educator, using these screeners can help ensure children get the help they need as early as possible, which is key to support timely identification of concerns and access to appropriate supports.
Using Screening Tools Across Settings
To get the most complete picture of a child's development and functioning, we encourage gathering input from multiple perspectives whenever possible. Parents, teachers, and—when appropriate—the child or adolescent each observe the child in different settings and contexts, and these combined insights are essential. Children may communicate, learn, behave, and regulate emotions differently at home, in school, and in social environments. Using these screening tools across settings can help identify possible concerns related to speech and language development, learning and academic skills, attention and executive functioning, autism-related characteristics, emotional and behavioral regulation, mood, anxiety, trauma, and stress. When available, a child's own perspective can provide especially valuable insight into internal experiences such as attention, emotions, or mood. Taken together, these observations support a more accurate, well-rounded understanding of a child's strengths and areas that may benefit from further evaluation, monitoring, or support.
Important Disclaimer
The screening tools listed on this page are not diagnostic and are not a substitute for a comprehensive clinical or educational evaluation. Screening results alone should not be used to make diagnoses, treatment decisions, or educational placements.
If concerns are identified, further evaluation by a qualified professional may be helpful.
This resource is intended for parents, caregivers, educators, and professionals seeking general information and screening tools. It is not a substitute for clinical care or professional evaluation.
Brigance® Head Start Screen
What it is: A developmental screening tool assessing cognitive, language, motor, and social-emotional skills in young children.
Purpose: Screens for developmental progress and kindergarten readiness to help identify children who may need further evaluation or support.
ASQ-3 – Ages and Stages Questionnaire, Third Edition
What it is: A parent-completed developmental screener covering communication, gross motor, fine motor, problem-solving, and personal-social domains.
Purpose: Identifies potential developmental delays to guide early intervention and referral decisions.
CSBS DP Infant-Toddler Checklist
What it is: A brief, validated screening checklist designed to identify early communication delays and autism risk in infants and toddlers.
Purpose: Helps flag children who may need further evaluation for speech, language, or developmental concerns.
ASQ-3 – Ages and Stages Questionnaire, Third Edition
What it is: A parent-completed developmental screener covering communication, gross motor, fine motor, problem-solving, and personal-social domains.
Purpose: Identifies potential developmental delays to guide early intervention and referral decisions.
NCII Academic Screening Tools Chart
What it is: A collection of evidence-based academic screening tools designed to identify students at risk for academic difficulties across various subjects such as reading, math, and writing. The tools include ratings on classification accuracy, reliability, validity, and usability to assist in selecting the appropriate screener.
Purpose: Helps flag potential academic challenges early to guide intervention and support for improved educational outcomes.
NCLD Checklists – Academic Concerns Checklists
What it is: Checklists designed to identify early academic and learning difficulties across different age groups and subjects.
Purpose: Helps flag potential signs of learning disabilities such as dyslexia, dysgraphia, and school readiness issues to guide referral for further evaluation.
ADHD-RS-IV – ADHD Rating Scale IV, Preschool Version (Parent/Teacher)
What it is: A behavioral rating scale adapted for preschool-aged children to assess core symptoms of ADHD—specifically inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity.
Purpose: Helps identify early signs of ADHD in home and classroom settings to guide referral for further developmental or psychological evaluation.
ADHD-RS-IV – ADHD Rating Scale (Parent/Teacher)
What it is: Behavioral rating scales completed by parents and teachers to assess core symptoms of ADHD, including inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity, observed in home and school settings.
Purpose: Helps identify ADHD symptoms to guide referral for further developmental, educational, or psychological evaluation.
ADHD-RS-IV – Self-Report Version (Child/Adolescent)
What it is: A self-report version of the ADHD Rating Scale IV designed to assess inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity symptoms from the youth's perspective.
Purpose: Provides additional insight into how the child experiences their own attention and behavior challenges, supporting a comprehensive evaluation.
Vanderbilt – ADHD Diagnostic Rating Scale (Parent/Teacher)
What it is: A behavioral checklist for identifying ADHD symptoms and related issues.
Purpose: Screens for ADHD and co-occurring conditions to inform next steps in evaluation.
M-CHAT-R/F – Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers, Revised with Follow-Up
What it is: A two-step screening tool designed to identify risk for autism spectrum disorder in toddlers. The follow-up interview helps clarify initial responses to improve accuracy.
Purpose: Detects early signs of autism that may warrant further evaluation and early intervention.
P-CHAT-R (Preschool Checklist for Autism in Toddlers - Revised)
What it is: A screening questionnaire to identify early signs of autism spectrum disorder in toddlers and preschoolers.
Purpose: Helps flag children who may need further diagnostic evaluation for autism.
ASSQ – Autism Spectrum Screening Questionnaire
What it is: A parent- or teacher-completed questionnaire designed to screen for traits associated with autism spectrum disorder in school-aged children.
Purpose: Helps identify children who may have autism spectrum traits to guide further professional evaluation.
AQ – Autism Spectrum Quotient
What it is: A self-report questionnaire that measures autistic traits in adolescents and adults.
Purpose: Used to identify the presence of autism-related traits and help determine if a professional evaluation is warranted.
PPSC – Preschool Pediatric Symptom Checklist
What it is: A brief, 18-item screening tool completed by parents to identify emotional and behavioral concerns in preschool-aged children.
Purpose: Screens for internalizing, externalizing, attention problems, and parenting challenges to support early identification of developmental or behavioral issues.
PKBS-2 – Preschool and Kindergarten Behavior Scale, Second Edition – Parent Version
What it is: A comprehensive 76-item questionnaire completed by parents assessing social skills and problem behaviors in preschool and kindergarten children.
Purpose: Helps identify social interaction difficulties, behavior problems, and emotional challenges to guide intervention planning.
PKBS-2 – Preschool and Kindergarten Behavior Scale, Second Edition – Teacher Version
What it is: A detailed 76-item behavior rating scale completed by teachers to assess social skills and problem behaviors observed in classroom settings.
Purpose: Supports identification of behavioral and social-emotional challenges to inform classroom interventions and referrals.
DBDRS – Disruptive Behavior Disorders Rating Scale – Parent Version
What it is: A 45-item checklist used by parents to rate symptoms of ADHD (inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity), Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD), and Conduct Disorder (CD), based on DSM criteria.
Purpose: Helps identify disruptive behaviors in the home setting and supports decisions about referral for further evaluation.
DBDRS – Disruptive Behavior Disorders Rating Scale – Teacher Version
What it is: A 45-item checklist completed by teachers to assess disruptive behavior symptoms such as inattention, hyperactivity, defiance, and aggression, as observed in the classroom.
Purpose: Assists in identifying behavioral challenges in school settings and determining the need for further clinical evaluation.
PSC-Y – Pediatric Symptom Checklist – Youth Self-Report Version
What it is: A self-report version of the Pediatric Symptom Checklist that allows youth to report on their own emotional and behavioral health.
Purpose: Screens broadly for internalizing symptoms (e.g., depression, anxiety), externalizing behaviors, and attention problems.
SDQ – Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire – Parent Version
What it is: A parent-report behavioral screening questionnaire assessing emotional symptoms, conduct problems, hyperactivity, peer relationships, and prosocial behavior.
Purpose: Screens broadly for emotional and behavioral difficulties in children and adolescents.
SDQ – Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire – Teacher Version
What it is: A brief behavioral screening tool assessing emotional symptoms, conduct problems, hyperactivity, peer relationships, and prosocial behavior.
Purpose: Screens broadly for emotional and behavioral difficulties in children and adolescents.
SDQ-SR – Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire – Self-Report Version
What it is: A self-report version of the SDQ assessing emotional symptoms, conduct problems, hyperactivity, peer relationships, and prosocial behavior.
Purpose: Screens broadly for emotional and behavioral difficulties in youth.
PSC – Pediatric Symptom Checklist – Parent Version
What it is: A parent-report screening tool to identify emotional and behavioral problems including internalizing, externalizing, and attention symptoms.
Purpose: Screens broadly for psychosocial issues affecting emotional well-being in children.
PSC – Pediatric Symptom Checklist – Teacher Version
What it is: A behavioral screening tool completed by teachers to identify emotional and behavioral problems in children, including internalizing, externalizing, and attention difficulties.
Purpose: Screens broadly for psychosocial issues affecting children's emotional and behavioral well-being.
PSC – Pediatric Symptom Checklist (Parent Version)
What it is: A brief psychosocial screening tool used to identify emotional and behavioral problems in children, including signs of depression, anxiety, attention, and conduct concerns.
Purpose: Helps identify children who may benefit from further mental health evaluation and support.
PSC-Y – Pediatric Symptom Checklist – Youth Self-Report Version
What it is: A self-report version of the PSC that allows youth to report on their own emotional and behavioral health.
Purpose: Screens for internalizing symptoms (e.g., depression, anxiety), externalizing behaviors, and attention problems.
Preschool Anxiety Scale (PAS) – Parent Version
What it is: A brief, parent-report screening tool designed to identify anxiety symptoms in preschool-aged children.
Purpose: Screens for types of anxiety including separation anxiety, social anxiety, and generalized anxiety to inform decisions about further evaluation.
Preschool Anxiety Scale – Teacher Version (PAS-T)
What it is: A classroom-based version of the PAS designed to identify anxiety symptoms in preschool-aged children based on teacher observations.
Purpose: Screens for types of anxiety such as separation anxiety, social withdrawal, and specific fears that may be more visible in group settings.
RCADS – Revised Children's Anxiety and Depression Scale
What it is: A self-report screening tool for identifying symptoms of anxiety and depression in youth, based on DSM criteria.
Purpose: Screens for multiple disorders including major depression, generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder, social phobia, and separation anxiety.
SCARED – Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders
What it is: A questionnaire designed to screen for symptoms of anxiety disorders across various domains.
Purpose: Identifies possible anxiety disorders such as separation anxiety, social phobia, generalized anxiety, and panic disorder.
CATS – Child and Adolescent Trauma Screen
What it is: A questionnaire that assesses trauma exposure, PTSD symptoms, and functioning.
Purpose: Screens for post-traumatic stress and trauma-related difficulties.
REACH Trauma Screener – Teacher Version
What it is: A brief trauma symptom screening tool designed for teachers to identify possible trauma-related distress in children.
Purpose: Screens for trauma exposure and post-traumatic stress symptoms to help guide referrals for further clinical evaluation.
When Further Evaluation May Be Helpful
If screening results raise concerns, if challenges persist over time, or if difficulties are affecting learning, behavior, or daily functioning across settings, a comprehensive evaluation may be helpful to better understand strengths, needs, and appropriate supports.
Together, we can help ensure children receive appropriate support when concerns arise.