Behavioral assessment

Behavioral assessment is intended to identify an infant’s current level of balance and smooth, integrated functioning. It is the intent of the behavioral assessment to describe the degree of competence and organization in the infant’s behavioral repertoire, as well as when and how behaviors reflect disorganization or stressful responses. Behavioral assessment begins with evaluating infant’s ability to control state, move smoothly from one state to another, and maintain alertness. An appropriate behavioral assessment describes infant’s abilities to utilize intervention support and delineates the types of facilitation necessary to ensure smooth functioning. Behavioral assessment provides an opportunity to consider the infant as a whole individual-an approach that enhances infant competencies and support of the infant-parent relationship. This chapter provides examples of behavioral assessment of well newborn, well preterm infant, and sick preterm infant with the descriptions of the instruments that can be used for behavioral assessment.