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evaluation of young children
The evaluation of children between the ages of birth to three and a
half, often referred to as a developmental evaluation, requires the
use of different tools than those used with older children, and should
be conducted by professionals experienced in working with children
in this age range. Because development in one area affects development
in other areas to a greater degree the younger the child, it is especially
important that young children who are suspected of having a developmental
delay in any area or behavioral/emotional difficulties receive a multidisciplinary
evaluation. This typically involves professionals from several different
disciplines. A full multidisciplinary evaluation assesses a child's
physical health, vision, hearing, cognitive development, adaptive
functioning (basic skills like feeding, toileting, dressing, social
interactions and communication at home, play), motor, sensory processing
and communication skills, and social/emotional development.
Parents sometimes worry that the evaluation process will be stressful for their child, and it's often hard for them to imagine how one could "test" a young child. For many children, the process is not difficult and is often fun. The tasks are presented as games in a playful manner, and the child's needs for snacks, breaks, or hugs from Mom or Dad are accommodated. At least one parent should always be allowed to stay with a young child during an evaluation. However, for children who have particular difficulties with transitions and/or meeting new people, the process can be difficult. Parents should talk to the clinicians ahead of time about their concerns, so that the clinicians can plan with the parents how to make the process as easy as possible for the child.
Children between the ages of three and five also usually need a multidisciplinary evaluation. The same areas listed above would be included. One major difference is that a child in this age range would typically be given an intelligence test to determine their cognitive ability level, rather than just assessing their current level of cognitive development. It is also possible to begin evaluating more thoroughly their behavioral health status, such as for children who are suspected of having Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.
In North Carolina, IDEA, which provides for evaluation, case management, and intervention services for children between the ages of birth to five, is implemented somewhat differently for the two age groups: birth to three and three to five. The Developmental Evaluation Centers, which are located at 18 locations throughout the state, provide multidisciplinary evaluations for children ages birth to five, with a priority on evaluating children under the age of three. However, case management and intervention services are provided by different agencies for children birth to three and three to five. For children ages birth to three, case management is provided through the Child Service Coordination program (often implemented through the county public health centers), and early intervention services are provided through the local area mental health/substance abuse/developmental disabilities programs. For children ages three to five, case management and intervention services are provided through the public school system.
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Disabilities 
