[Application of the Breuer-Weuffen Discrimination test as a preschool screening test in Baden-Württemberg]. / Anwendung der Differenzierungsprobe nach Breuer und Weuffen als Screeningverfahren bei Einschulungsuntersuchungen in Baden-Württemberg.

From 1997 to 2002 a total of 597 school children aged 6-7 years and 41,919 preschool children (5-7 years) were examined using the Breuer-Weuffen Discrimination test (DP). For 20 to 23% of all children a further training of perceptual and language abilities was found necessary to avoid or reduce learning difficulties at school. The DP can be used as a screening method in an average time of 7 minutes. The results obtained were well comparable for different samples of preschool children. Further, the DP allows the derivation of specific needs for the training of children who fail to meet the test criteria. Mild perceptual disturbances or light graphomotoric problems can be improved by specific training before school offered by parents and kindergarten teachers, whereas severe problems should be treated by professionals.