Neurologic outcome score for infants and children.
OBJECTIVE
To develop and validate a practical outcome instrument applicable to a broad range of neurologic deficits in children.


METHODS
Reliability testing of a draft version of the Neurologic Outcome Scale for Infants and Children (NOSIC) in 100 children with a wide range of ages and levels of neurologic function was performed. After review of the reliability data by a panel of experts, the NOSIC was revised. Validity and reliability testing of the final NOSIC was performed in a new population of 157 children, 52 with cerebral palsy, motor delay, or language delay. Interrater reliability was assessed using Spearman rank correlation coefficients of two investigators' scores. NOSIC scores were correlated with scores on criterion-standard neuropsychological tests to assess validity.


RESULTS
The median NOSIC score for normal children was 98, interquartile range 96-100; the median score for abnormal children was 87, interquartile range 58-96. Interrater reliability of the NOSIC scores of 84 patients rated by both raters demonstrated excellent reliability (rho = 0.77, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.62 to 0.88). Correlation of the NOSIC scores of the 127 patients who had neuropsychological testing with applicable criterion standards was rho = 0.63, 95% CI = 0.50 to 0.74.


CONCLUSIONS
The NOSIC is a practical, reliable, valid, instrument applicable to infants and children with a broad range of neurologic deficits. It should be a useful research tool when neurologic function is an important outcome measure.
Okada
Pamela J
PJ
Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center of Dallas, Dallas, TX 75390-9063, USA. pokada@childmed.dallas.tx.us
Young
Kelly D
KD
Baren
Jill M
JM
Raroque
Soledad S
SS
Huff
Kenneth R
KR
Wiebe
Jacqueline B
JB
Stavinoha
Peter L
PL
Lewis
Roger J
RJ
D001930:Brain Injuries; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003943:Diagnostic Techniques, Neurological; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D015203:Reproducibility of Results