What is ASQ:SE?

	The early identification of social and emotional problems in infants and young children is essential. ASQ:SE is a screening tool that identifies infants and young children whose social and emotional development requires further evaluation to determine if referral for intervention services is necessary.

When is the crying of a 3-year-old "too much?" Are Elisa's tantrums out of control, or are they in the range of what is expected for a 2-year-old? Is it appropriate for 4-year-old Jacob to cling to his mother and have difficulty separating every morning at preschool?

		ASQ:SE at a Glance Age range covered 6–60 months Intervals 8 questionnaires and scoring sheets at 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, 36, 48, and 60 months of age Areas screened Self-regulation, compliance, communication, adaptive behaviors, autonomy, affect, and interaction with people Sample Item From the 30–month questionnaire: Does your child have eating problems such as stuffing foods, vomiting, eating nonfood items, or __________? (You may write in another problem.) Components A master set of the 8 questionnaires and The ASQ:SE User’s Guide, with complete instructions on setting up and running ASQ:SE, validity data, tips on cultural sensitivity, case studies, and activities Who completes it Parents/caregivers complete questionnaires; professionals, paraprofessionals, or clerical staff score them Time Each questionnaire takes 10–15 minutes to complete and just 1-3 minutes to score Validity and reliability Investigated with over 3,000 questionnaires across the age intervals. Reliability is 94%; validity is between 75% and 89% Languages Questionnaires in English and Spanish Other features Cost-effective, reproducible, can be used alone or in conjunction with ASQ

There is a growing need to examine and assess the social and emotional competence of young children—more and more children are living and poverty and subjected to other risk factors that increase their likelihood of depression, anxiety, and antisocial behavior. What's more, recent research has revealed the huge impact a child's environment has or his or her developing brain. Identifying children who are struggling early is critical.

Why Use ASQ:SE?

The Ages & Stages Questionnaires®: Social-Emotional (ASQ:SE) was developed to help home visiting, early intervention, Early Head Start, Head Start, child welfare agencies, and other early childhood programs accurately screen infants and young children determine who would benefit from an in-depth evaluation in the area of social-emotional development. ASQ:SE can also be used in comprehensive Child Find systems to screen large groups of children for the early detection of potential social or emotional problems. 

Created in response to feedback on the Ages & Stages Questionnaires® (ASQ), ASQ:SE is an easy-to-use tool with a deep, exclusive focus on children’s social and emotional behavior. It has all the advantages of ASQ—it’s cost-effective, parent-completed, photocopiable, and culturally sensitive.

With questionnaire results, professionals can quickly recognize young children at risk for social or emotional difficulties, identify behaviors of concern to caregivers, and identify any need for further assessment.

Can ASQ:SE Be Used as a Developmental Screener?

ASQ:SE focuses on social and emotional behavior. To be sure that you are taking a comprehensive look at a young child's development, use ASQ:SE in conjunction with ASQ or another developmental screening measure that provides information on a child’s general functioning in communication, motor, and cognitive areas.

Learn about the research behind ASQ and ASQ:SE >>