Discrimination of normal and at-risk preschool children on the basis of neurological tests.
A set of neurological tasks was administered to normal three- and five-year-old preschool children as well as to equal-age children identified as being at-risk for learning disabilities. 12 neurological test items were identified that differentiated normal from at-risk children at one or both ages. Follow-up of the five-year-olds at age seven showed a significant linear relation between scores on neurological tasks and the Wechsler Intelligence Test for Children. The neurological examination at age five also had predictive value regarding class placement at age seven. The findings suggest that a simple neurological test may be helpful for the early identification of preschool children who are at risk for learning difficulties.
Huttenlocher
P R
PR
Department of Education, University of Chicago, Illinois 60637.
Levine
S C
SC
Huttenlocher
J
J
Gates
J
J
D001925:Brain Damage, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004519:Education, Special; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007859:Learning Disabilities / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D012307:Risk Factors; D014888:Wechsler Scales