title: Predictive validity of a preschool neurodevelopmental instrument.
abstract: The Pediatric Examination of Educational Readiness (PEER) is a combined neurodevelopmental, behavioral, and health assessment for children ages 4 to 6 years old. The purpose of this study was to examine its predictive validity. One hundred seven five-year-olds received the PEER at age five. At age eight, all took the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills (ITBS), a nationally normed achievement battery. Mean ITBS scores were significantly different between those passing and failing the PEER Developmental Attainment section (t = 4.5, df = 105, p less than .001). Of six developmental areas sampled, preacademic skills emerged as the most potent predictor of achievement (R = .43, Re = .18, p less than .001). Neuromaturation scores did not correlate with ITBS results. Sensitivity of the PEER was 45%, specificity was 87% and test accuracy was 79%. We conclude that the PEER is useful in describing current developmental strengths and weaknesses but has limited ability in predicting future learning problems for individual children.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Blackman
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bretthauer
authors.forename: R P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Gressard
authors.forename: R P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Nelson
mesh_terms: D000124:Achievement; D001077:Aptitude Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001288:Attention; D001925:Brain Damage, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007859:Learning Disabilities / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011594:Psychometrics; D012307:Risk Factors