DONATED BY:
Antoni, Ira Escultor, Ema Louise
Go, Sophia Jan Marie Lledo, Rosa Mae
Ariza, Martie Malinao, Trixia Marina M.
Balondo, Jaina Marcial, Marck Richard
Badar, Lucy Pigar, Jo Marchianne
Avila, Sherlain Tan, Steffie Jane
Beriso, Kasandra Tezon, Frances Laila
Katindoy, John Jones Tiro, Madelaine Illeana
Edradan, Mafel Ross
Metro Manila
Developmen
tal
Screening
Test
(MMDST)
1. What is MMDST?
- It is an early detection model that applies to the detection of developmental
disabilities in children aged six and a half years old and younger.
- Modified and standardized by Dr. Phoebe D. Williams from DDST to MMDST
- Design for health professionals such as nurses, doctors, and health workers so that
slow development may be recognized, referrals made and appropriate therapy
prescribed as soon as possible.
2. What is the purpose of MMDST?
- To establish baseline information on the development characteristics of Filipino
infants and toddlers.
- To detect development delays in children 2 weeks to 6 and half years old.
- Evaluates 4 aspects of development: Personal – social, Fine – motor adaptive,
Language, and Gross motor behavior.
3. What are the materials needed?
- Bright red yarn (pom-pom)
- Rattle with a narrow-handle
- Eight 1-inch colored blocks (red, blue, yellow, green)
- Small clear glass or bottle with 5/8-inch opening
- Small bell 2 ½ inch-diameter opening
- Rubber ball 12 ½ inches in diameter
- Cheese curls
- Pencil and bond paper
4. What is the difference between MMDST and DDST? Explain why MMDST is needed.
- MMDST was adopted and standardized from DDST by Dr. Phoebe D. Williams on
Metro Manila children of ages 6 ½ and younger. This restandardization included
changes in test items to assure cultural relevance as well as the development of
Philippine norms. DDST was the first to developed by Dr. William K. Frankenburg
that associates in 1967 for the Denver children of ages 0-6 years old in order to
provide a simple screening method for evidences of slow development of infants and
preschool children.
Why is MMDST needed by the Filipinos?
- Because recent demographic data in the Philippines show large family sizes with an
average of 5 children per family; some families have over 10 children. The
consequences of large family size on the development of children and on society’s
development within a country and globally should be a matter of grave and urgent
matter. That’s why, measures of reliability and validity of test were done, as well as
multivariate analyses of the characteristics of children who would score “Normal” or
“Abnormal” on the test
5. Test Procedure:
- Establish rapport with the mother or caregiver
- Make the child as comfortable as possible
- Calculate the child’s age. Ask for the birth date of the child and calculate the exact
age using this formula: Date of test minus birth date equals age of child: Calculate
first the days, then months, and then years.
- Draw the age line using the ruler in the test form
- Select the items to be administered
- Administer the test
- Score the results
- Interpret test results
- Explain overall interpretation of test to parent or caregiver
6. Things to consider
- If the child is very shy or uncooperative, the caregiver may be asked to administer the
test provided that the examiners instructs the caregiver to administer it exactly as
directed in the manual.
- If the child is very shy, uncooperative, tired, or afraid, the test may be deferred.
- Manner in which each test is administered must be exactly the same as stated in the
manual, word, or direction may not be changed. If not followed, error will occur.
- If the child is premature, subtract the number of weeks of prematurity. But if child is
more than 2 years of age during the test, subtracting may not be necessary.
7. Importance of MMDST:
- Measurement of development delays
- To screen if the developmental milestone of the child is appropriately developed for
his or her age.
- Knowing the capability of child at his or her age.
- Knowing how the personal-social, fine motor adaptive, language, and gross motor
develops.
