Modern approaches to assessing motor development in infants and young children in clinical practice

Early detection of motor impairments poses a significant diagnostic challenge. This article examines methods that go beyond classical neurological examinations and are widely applied in both international and domestic practices for assessing motor development in infants and young children. Diagnostic methods for evaluating motor development or predicting the risk of motor impairments can be categorized as follows: anamnestic methods (used to identify children at risk of motor skills disorders); milestone-based assessments (compare motor development to established norms); standardized observations (focus on the quality of movements and motor patterns; e.g., standardized neurological examinations adapted for infants and young children); screening tools (include standardized and semi-standardized instruments); developmental tests (assess motor and broader developmental domains). Routine neurological examinations alone are insufficient for evidence-based assessments of motor development in high-risk infants or for evaluating intervention outcomes. While neurological scales are versatile, cultural factors can influence motor development stages. Although this influence is less significant than in other developmental domains, assessment tools must be adapted to national norms to maintain validity. Assessment tools may either have a narrow focus (evaluating motor functions exclusively) or take a comprehensive approach (assessing motor functions alongside other developmental domains). The choice of a tool depends on the child’s age and the clinician’s objectives, such as identifying children at risk, predicting developmental outcomes, or evaluating the effectiveness of rehabilitation or early intervention programs. A critical limitation is the availability of tools and whether they have been adapted for domestic use. This article outlines the age ranges, diagnostic parameters, and practical applications of 21 evidence-based diagnostic tools. It provides a classification of these tools and discusses their applications, particularly in multidisciplinary and multi-level diagnostic approaches.