I. Introduction: we have been introduced to the theories of Getman and Kephart that are the backbone of all visual perceptual tests. Now it is time to apply the theory in evaluating a child's perceptual skills. Unfortunately, perceptual skills are difficult (but not impossible) to assess in the very young child (< 6). Developmental screening tests have been devised to test these young patients for any delays in their visual/motor/language/ social development. Of the many tests available, we will discuss two.

II. The Developmental Indicator for Assessment of Learning (DIAL-R):

A. It is a brief survey of a child's motor and cognitive skills, which consists of four sections.
1. The test has seven items to be completed for each of the four sections.

2. Scoring is based on a four-point scale (0-3).

3. Each item in the survey is attempted.

B. The four sections are:

1. Gross motor skills: throwing, catching, jumping, hopping, balancing (etc.)

2. Fine motor skills: matching shapes, building blocks, copying, clapping (etc.)

3. Concepts: sorting blocks, naming colors, counting, following directions (etc.)

  • 4. Communication: naming nouns, answering questions, telling a story from a picture, naming food
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    III. The Denver Developmental Screening Test (DDST):

  • A. Although this test is designed to take only ten minutes, it is a more intensive test of a child's motor and cognitive skills.
  • 1. It can be administered to the very young child (from 1-3 months)

    2. It consists of 105 test items, but not all are given to each child.

    3. Once again, four categories are given. They are:

  • a. personal-social: (30 items) c. Language: (21 items)

    b. Fine motor-adaptive: (30 items) d. Gross motor: (31 items)

    •

    • B. Administration of the DDST:

  • 1. Construction of the age line:
  • a. determine chronological age (subtract weeks if premature)

    b. draw a line through the child's adjusted age on the score sheet

    c. perform those test that the line intersects first.

    •

    2. Test the child to their ceiling level:

  • a. pass: child completes the task correctly , or parent reports that the child can complete the task (this is acceptable only on those items that have an "R "next to the box). The child is given three chances. The child must have three passes before going on to another sector.

    b. fail: child attempts to complete the task, but does so incorrectly on three attempts. Three failures indicate a ceiling level has been reached, and you should go on to the next sector (if there are three passes in that sector already).

    c. refuse: child refuses to complete task. If it is clear that the child can do the task, but refuses out of boredom, the administrator may choose to pass the child on that item

    d. the ceiling level is reached when there are: three failures recorded

    e. it may be necessary to perform tests close to, but not touching the age line (before or after) if:

    • the patient cannot pass any items that the age line crosses
  • OR
    •
    • the patient completes all items crossed by the age line and hasn’t failed three items
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    3. What does the "R" mean? You can rely on the parents’ report of their child’s ability

    4. What does the asterisk mean? Special instructions appear on the backside of the form

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    C. Scoring of the DDST

  • 1. Determining the percentage of normal age matched children that pass the item requires looking at the score sheet. If the adjusted age line:
  • a. passes to the left of the rectangle: less than 25% of age matched children can pass this task

    b. passes through the left edge of the rectangle: 25% of age matched children can pass this task

    c. passes through the small vertical line extending from the top of the rectangle: 50% of age matched children can pass this task

    d. passes through the separation between the light and shaded area of the rectangle: 75% of age matched children can pass this task

    e. passes through the right edge of the rectangle: 90% of age matched children can pass this task

    f. passes to the right of the rectangle: this is called a delay

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    2. Delays: the entire rectangle is to the left of the age line

    3. Abnormal test results:

  • -two (of four) sectors have at least two delays

    OR

    - one sector has at least two delays and another sector has one delay and no item the age line intersects is passed

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    4. Questionable test results:

  • -one (of four) sectors have at least two delays

    OR

    -one sector has one delay and that same sector has no item passed that is intersected by the age line

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    • IV. Concluding Remarks:

    A. This test has been designed so that most technicians can administer the test. It does not require an advanced educational degree.

    B. It is a standardized test. Therefore, it must be completed as the instructional set dictates. Any variation throws of the norms established for the test.

    C. If the results of this test are abnormal, the child should be referred to an educational specialist, occupational or physical therapist or medical specialist for further testing/therapy.