Is the Denver norm referenced?

• A. Yes
• B. No
• C. Only for some age groups
• D. It is a screening tool

Answer: (A)

The Denver is norm-referenced. That means it uses age-based norms derived from a representative sample of typically developing children to interpret a child’s performance. Clinicians compare how a child does on milestones across domains to the distribution of scores for children of the same age, which helps identify potential delays rather than judging performance against fixed criteria alone. This normative framework is what lets the tool flag kids who may need further evaluation, while still serving as a screening instrument rather than a diagnosis. The test does include age-specific norms across its available age range, so it isn’t limited to just some ages.