5 Essentials for Virtual ASQ Screenings

Your early childhood program might opt for virtual ASQ screenings for several reasons, including health concerns, logistical issues such as distance and transportation, and convenience for families.

While virtual screenings are a great way to overcome barriers to completion of the Ages & Stages Questionnaires, implementing them successfully can create another set of challenges. Here are five essential guidelines to help guide your program through virtual screenings and ensure strong support for both children and families.

Get set up with ASQ Family Access

Questionnaires can be mailed to families for completion if they have limited access to the internet—but by far the most convenient and effective way to conduct virtual screening is by sending questionnaires electronically through ASQ Family Access (part of the ASQ Online system). Family Access gives parents 24/7 mobile access to questionnaires, keeps parents from accidentally skipping items, and makes it easy to send notifications and reminders about the child’s next screening. (If your program doesn’t use ASQ Online yet, sign up for the next free demo here.)

Prepare parents for the screening ahead of time

Connect by phone or video a week before parents complete the screening to discuss the purpose of screening and introduce the questionnaire. Make sure to answer any questions that the parent may have. Share the ASQ-3 Parent Guide and ASQ-3 Material Lists with parents so they have time to observe skills and try activities with their child before completing ASQ. (See below for links to our free parent resources.)

Closer to the targeted screening date, you may want to review the ASQ-3 Parent Guide with the caregiver and ask how you can support them to complete ASQ.

Address any need for materials

Three to five days before the screening date, reach out to review the ASQ-3 Materials List with the parent. If needed, problem-solve with parents to help them make materials or adapt items. Remember that up to 2 ASQ-3 items per area may be omitted if needed (scores need to be adjusted).

Example of material adaptation:

ASQ-3 question: Does your child throw a small ball with a forward arm motion? (Evaluates ability to coordinate arm and hand movements)

If a ball isn’t available, use a small, soft toy that the child can hold in their hand or make a ball out of crumpled paper and tape.

Example of item adaptation:

ASQ-3 question: Does your child eat with a fork? (Evaluates self-help skill; ability to self-feed)

If the family doesn’t use forks, this skill can be evaluated with the use of chopsticks or the use of hands to scoop food with bread or tortillas

Go through the questionnaire together if needed

Some parents will be able to complete the screening by themselves without any assistance while other parents may need some support, such as assistance with reading questions.

If parents need help, you can go through the questionnaire together with them via a phone or video call. If you’re using interactive video conferencing, observe as many skills as possible together. (But remember that parent report is valid and reliable, and professionals don’t need to observe the child performing the skills.) If you’re connecting via an audio call, talk through each item on ASQ. Ask open-ended questions to get more detail about parent observations, and be sure to discuss the Overall Section and any parent concerns.

Promptly follow up after the screening

After a virtual screening is complete, schedule a second conference with parents to discuss results and plan follow-up steps, if needed. Don’t wait too long; follow-up conferences should take place within one week of the screening.

• Begin the meeting by celebrating the child.
• Review the completed questionnaire.
• Review ASQ-3 results by area (with or without Information Summary).
• Discuss concerns noted in the Overall Section
• Share ASQ-3 Learning Activities to support progress in areas of concern
• Facilitate referrals if they are safe and available—use your professional judgement

As you continue to conduct virtual screenings, you’ll get a better understanding of what works—and what doesn’t—for your program. Talk with families to make sure that you’re addressing any questions or concerns they have, too.

Resources to share with families

• ASQ-3 Parent Guide (JPEG version or PDF version)
• ASQ-3 Parent Guide in Spanish (JPEG version or PDF version)
• ASQ-3 & ASQ:SE-2 Parent Activities
• Materials Needed to Administer ASQ-3
• Areas of ASQ-3 (JPEG version or PDF version)
• ASQ:SE-2 parent guide (JPEG version or PDF version)
• ASQ:SE-2 Parent Guide in Spanish (JPEG version or PDF version)
• ASQ:SE-2 Social-Emotional Development Guide
• ASQ:SE-2 Social-Emotional Development Guide poster