Developmental scientists and medical social science experts at Northwestern University have spearheaded the creation of the most recent NIH Toolbox, providing the newest nationally standardized assessment of cognitive, language, motor and social-emotional skill development in infants aged 16 days to 42 months.

The original NIH Toolbox, although widely implemented in clinical and research settings, was designed to measure children from 3 years of age through adulthood. This left a serious gap: There was no research-based, nationally validated measurement battery to assess infants and toddlers. This was troubling because infants’ earliest years have a broad and significant impact on later developmental outcomes. Early delays or deficits often cascade into persisting developmental challenges, making timely intervention critical.