Validation of the Motor Functional Development Scale for Young Children to predict motor outcome in preterm infants: A 2 years follow-up study.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the validity of the Motor Functional Development Scale for Young Children (DF-mot) to predict motor developmental delays in preterm infants. METHOD: This retrospective cohort study includes 67 preterm infants who were assessed at 3-5 months by the DF-mot and the Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS); and at 22-25 months by the Bayley Scales of Infant-Toddler Development (Bayley-III). The properties of the DF-mot and the AIMS were examined based on their ability to predict motor delays on the Bayley-III. RESULTS: The DF-mot gross motor subscale -2 SD and the AIMS 10th centile showed best balance between sensitivity and specificity (respectively Se = 57.1%, Sp = 71.7% and Se = 50%, Sp = 73.5%). Overall, the DF-mot fine motor subscale fails to predict motor delays. CONCLUSION: The DF-mot shows a lack of sensitivity and of positive predictive value to accurately predict motor outcome at 2 years in preterm infants. ABBREVIATIONS: CA, Corrected age; AIMS, Alberta Infant Motor Scale; DF-mot/PML, Motor Functional Development Scale for Young Children postural motor locomotor; DF-mot/EHGC, Motor Functional Development Scale for Young Children eye-hand grip coordination; Bayley-III/GM, Gross motor subscale of the Bayley Scales of Infant-Toddler Development Third Edition; Bayley-III/FM, Fine motor subscale of the Bayley Scales of Infant-Toddler Development Third Edition.

Comparative validity between the Canadian and the Dutch norms of the Alberta Infant Motor Scale in a preterm population.

BACKGROUND: Prematurity remains a leading cause of motor developmental delays. The Alberta Infant Motor Scales (AIMS) is a useful tool to easily assess motor development. However, during the last decade, cross-cultural differences have been identified regarding the original AIMS norms. Therefore, the aim of this study is twofold: confirm the validity of the AIMS in a preterm population and compare the new Dutch AIMS norms to the original Canadian ones in our Belgian population. METHOD: Ninety-six preterm infants were assessed simultaneously on the AIMS and on the Bayley Scales of Infant-Toddler Development (Bayley-III) at age 9-14 months. Concurrent validity was evaluated by correlation analysis. Among these, 89 were assessed on the AIMS at age 3-6 months. Clinimetric properties of both AIMS norms were calculated to compare their ability to detect a motor delay on the Bayley-III at age 9-14 months. RESULT: Pearson's coefficient showed an excellent level of correlation between the two scales (r = 0.91). At age 3-6 months, only the 10th Canadian centile showed acceptable properties to predict a significant motor delay. At age 9-14 months, the 5th centile of both norms showed good properties to diagnose a significant motor delay, while only the Canadian norms seems to be sensitive enough to diagnose a mild motor delay. CONCLUSION: The new Dutch norms seem to be less sensitive but more specific than the Canadian ones and therefore require adapted cut-offs to diagnose motor developmental delays in a preterm population.

Concurrent and predictive validity of the Motor Functional Development Scale for Young Children in preterm infants.

BACKGROUND: The Motor Functional Development Scale for Young Children (DF-mot) is a developmental tool assessing both gross and fine motor skills in term infants. AIMS: To examine the concurrent validity of the DF-mot with the Alberta Infants Motor Scale (AIMS) in preterm infants and compare their ability in predicting scores on the Bayley Scales of Infant-Toddler Development (Bayley-III) at 12 months. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SUBJECTS AND OUTCOME MEASURES: Hundred and eleven infants born at less than 32 weeks' gestation or with a birthweight less than 1500 g were assessed simultaneously on the DF-mot and the AIMS at age 3-5 months. Correlation analysis was used to determine the strength of association between the DF-mot and the AIMS. Among these, 62 were reassessed on the Bayley-III at age 9-12 months. Clinimetric properties were calculated to evaluate their ability to predict motor delay on the Bayley-III. RESULTS: The concurrent validity study found a good level of correlation between the two scales (r = 0.79). The predictive validity study showed good sensitivity and negative predictive value for the AIMS 25th centile and the DF-mot -1 standard deviation to predict motor delay at 12 months (respectively Se = 100% and 84%; NPV = 100% and 77.8%). CONCLUSIONS: The DF-mot is a valid instrument with good predictive validity in preterm infants, suggesting it can be used as a clinical useful tool to assess motor development.