Effects of child age and level of developmental delay on family practice physicians' diagnostic impressions.

A 2 x 2 factorial design was used to examine the effects of child age (20 and 40 months) and level of developmental delay (mild and severe) on identification of developmental disorders by 155 family practice physicians. Results provide preliminary evidence that level of delay influences identification of developmental delay, with mild delay less likely to be detected. Implications in light of federal legislation as well as directions for future research were discussed.