“The ultimate goal of screening is to improve outcomes for children with developmental delays, but in our study we found that many pediatricians did not act properly even when serious red flags were present,” study lead researcher Dr. Tracy King, of Johns Hopkins Children’s Center, stated in a news release. “This is where we should focus our efforts: making sure that more children with suspected delays get referred for testing and therapy.”

The study authors recommended that pediatricians should have procedures in place to screen children for developmental delays and provide referrals if needed. And it is better if pediatricians make the referrals themselves instead of leaving it up to families to do so, according to the report published on the web Jan. 25 in the February issue of the journal Pediatrics.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) guidelines suggest routine developmental screening and testing of children under the age of 3 during well-child visits.

In the study, procedures at 17 pediatric offices in 15 says were examined. While the percentage of patients screened rose from 68 percent to 85 percent following AAP guideline training of doctors and staff, the number of referrals was low at just 61 percent.

King noted that it is crucial to get prompt treatment for developmentally delayed kids because those who do not get it fare poorly in the long run.