ERIC Number: EJ904471
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2005-Aug
Pages: 10
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1080-4013
EISSN: N/A
Measurement of Attention and Related Functions in the Preschool Child
Mahone, E. Mark
Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities Research Reviews, v11 n3 p216-225 Aug 2005
The goal of this review of the clinical and research literature is to identify, describe, and critique published methods for assessment of attention and related functions in preschool children (ages 6 and younger). The need for valid assessment of preschool children has grown dramatically in the past two decades following the implementation of special education services for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers under Public Law 99-457. At the same time, the number of preschool children presenting to clinicians for assessment of attention problems has grown at a steady rate. In contrast to assessment methods for school-age children, the availability of reliable and valid measures of attention for preschool children is much more limited. The majority of instruments developed to measure attention in preschoolers are described in the experimental literature, with fewer available commercially. Attention tests that can be appropriately used with children aged 3 and younger are scarce. Most preschool tests of attention report validity data involving sensitivity in contrasting clinical groups to controls, while the literature describing the utility of these measures in differentiating between clinical groups is much more limited. The review provides information on performance based tests (e.g., continuous performance, cancellation, auditory/visual span), as well as parent and teacher rating scales. The review concludes that valid assessment of attention and related skills can be effectively achieved in preschool children, with appropriate cautions. (Contains 1 table.)
Descriptors: Preschool Children, Attention Span, Literature Reviews, Evaluation Methods, Test Validity, Attention Deficit Disorders, At Risk Students, Performance Based Assessment, Teacher Attitudes, Parent Attitudes, Rating Scales, Auditory Perception, Visual Perception, Child Development, Reaction Time, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: Preschool Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Assessments and Surveys: Conners Rating Scales; Continuous Performance Test; Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children; Matching Familiar Figures Test
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A