Visuomotor perception in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder--combined type.

Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder--Combined Type (ADHD-CT) defined by behavioral characteristics of inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity including weaknesses in fine motor coordination and poor motor inhibition frequently exhibit poor handwriting and penmanship. Performance of children on visuomotor tasks is further complicated, as most studies have not excluded children with specific learning disabilities who are known to do poorly on these tests. This study was designed to examine the performance of children diagnosed with this disorder, without learning disabilities on visuomotor tasks. 26 preadolescent patients were administered a battery of tests that included the Bender-Gestalt, Conners' Parent Rating Scale, Continuous Performance Task, and Wide Range Achievement Test-Third Edition Scores on the Bender-Gestalt test averaged significantly lower than Koppitz normative data. This study lends support to the hypothesis that ADHD-CT children without learning disabilities exhibit deficits on tasks requiring visuomotor perception.

Use of the School Performance Rating Scale with children treated for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

The School Performance Rating Scale was developed to assess academic performance of children diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The most frequent concern of professionals, parents, and teachers is the child's performance and achievement in school; however, assessments are seldom obtained pretest and posttest. The scale has yet to be standardized so its association with academic behavior was estimated with the ADD-H Comprehensive Teachers' Rating Scale. 24 elementary-school children were given both scales after being diagnosed and treated for ADHD, following evaluation by a multidisciplinary team at a medical university's child-development clinic. A positive correlation of .8 was found between scores on the School Performance Rating Scale and .6 with Attention and Social Skills from the ADD-H Comprehensive Teachers' Rating Scale. Standardization of the scale would allow clinicians more specific identifications.

Factor analysis of the continuous performance test and parent-teacher reports of attention deficit disorder.

The relationships between a computerized measure of attention deficit disorder and scores from two commonly used parent-teacher reports were investigated. A factor analysis of the raw omission and commission scores provided by the Continuous Performance Test and Conners' Parent Rating Scale and the ADD-H Comprehensive Teacher Rating Scale indicated that for a sample of 54 children the Continuous Performance Test was most closely associated with measures of impulsivity and hyperactivity provided by the Conners' rating. This finding was congruent with the use of the Continuous Performance Test in the evaluation as a measure of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and suggestive of a positive and significant relation between this computerized measure of behavior and parents' perception of behavior. Little association was detected between scores on the teachers' scale and omission and commission scores.

Comparison of Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales-Survey Form age equivalent and standard score with the Bayley Mental Development Index.

The Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales-Survey Form standard score, Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales-Survey Form age equivalent and Bayley scales' Mental Development Index were given to 44 high-risk infants age 12 mo. and suspected of developmental delay. The VABS-Survey Form, a revision of the Vineland Social Maturity Scale is frequently used in assessment of developmental delay; however, questions have arisen as to whether the standard score or age equivalent is the better measure. A developmental quotient based on VABS-SF age equivalent and VABS-SF standard score was compared with the Bayley Mental Development Index. The mean VABS-SF standard score was significantly higher than the age equivalent quotient and the Bayley Mental Development Index. Implications for the use of VABS-SF age equivalent in evaluating such infants are discussed.

Comparison of the Vineland Social Maturity Scale, the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales--survey form, and the Bayley Scales of Infant Development with infants evaluated for developmental delay.

The Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales is an extensive revision of the Vineland Social Maturity Scale; however, research comparing the two scales with different populations and measures of intelligence is limited. The Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales--Survey Form, the Vineland Social Maturity Scale, and the mental scale of the Bayley Scales of Infant Development were administered to 44 infants referred for evaluation of developmental delay. The differences between means were compared and shared variance examined. The Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales--Survey Form scores were significantly higher than those of the Vineland Social Maturity Scale and the Bayley Mental Development Index. No significant differences were found between the means of the Vineland Social Maturity Scale and the Bayley Scales of Infant Development--Mental Development Index. Correlations were .59 between the Bayley Index and scores on the Vineland--Survey Form and .72 between the Bayley Index and the Vineland Social Maturity Scale. Between versions of the Vineland scale r = .39. Implications for diagnosis and educational classification are discussed.

Correlations of the Kahn Intelligence Test and the WAIS--R IQs among mentally retarded adults.

Correlations of scores on the WAIS--R and Kahn Intelligence Test: Experimental (KIT) were examined. The 21 subjects were moderately and severely adaptively impaired adults. The WAIS--R is frequently included in the evaluation of moderately and severely retarded adults but its use has been questioned given the problem of statistical floor because institutionalized mentally retarded adults were excluded from the standardization sample. Tasks demand verbal communication and timed performance. The KIT is utilized as a test of intelligence that requires limited verbal skills, is less influenced by cultural/educational factors, and has an adequate statistical floor. Results suggested significantly lower mean scores on the KIT than on WAIS--R. If further evidence supports these conclusions, the KIT may be a valuable instrument in the assessment of moderately and severely retarded adults.

Comparability of the Vineland Social Maturity Scale and the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scale--survey form with infants evaluated for developmental delay.

The Vineland Social Maturity Scale and its revision, the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scale-Survey Form, were evaluated with infants referred for suspected developmental delay. Since the latter is being used more often by psychologists in evaluation and placement of children in the age group of birth to two years, comparative studies must ensure appropriate placement of children observed to have developmental delays. The present study indicated significantly higher over-all adaptive functioning on the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scale-Survey Form for 33 black and 11 white infants of mean age 12 mo. than on the original Vineland scales. Substituting the Survey Form for the original Vineland scales when evaluating developmentally delayed infants is questionable. These results are also noteworthy in that children whose Vineland Social Maturity scaled scores make them eligible for special services would be excluded if the revised form were used in the evaluation process.

Comparability of WAIS and WAIS--R scores among mentally retarded adults.

This study compared the performance on the WAIS and WAIS--R of 21 mentally retarded adults residing in an Intermediate Care Facility. Tests were administered in one order, the WAIS initially and the WAIS--R second, with approximately two years between testings. Significant differences were found on the WAIS and WAIS--R for Verbal, Performance and Full Scale IQs. This finding contrasts with the differences between the measures as reported in the WAIS--R manual.