title: Colorado Learning Difficulties Questionnaire: validation of a parent-report screening measure.
abstract: This study evaluated the internal structure and convergent and discriminant evidence for the Colorado Learning Difficulties Questionnaire (CLDQ), a 20-item parent-report rating scale that was developed to provide a brief screening measure for learning difficulties. CLDQ ratings were obtained from parents of children in 2 large community samples and 2 samples from clinics that specialize in the assessment of learning disabilities and related disorders (total N = 8,004). Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses revealed 5 correlated but separable dimensions that were labeled reading, math, social cognition, social anxiety, and spatial difficulties. Results revealed strong convergent and discriminant evidence for the CLDQ Reading scale, suggesting that this scale may provide a useful method to screen for reading difficulties in both research studies and clinical settings. Results are also promising for the other 4 CLDQ scales, but additional research is needed to refine each of these measures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, UCB 345, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, USA. willcutt@colorado.edu
authors.forename: Erik G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Willcutt
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Boada
authors.forename: Margaret W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Riddle
authors.forename: Nomita
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Chhabildas
authors.forename: John C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: DeFries
authors.forename: Bruce F
authors.initials: BF
authors.lastname: Pennington
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D004522:Educational Status; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007859:Learning Disabilities / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D008433:Mathematics; D015588:Observer Variation; D010290:Parents; D011581:Psychological Tests / Q000592:standards*; D011932:Reading; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012917:Social Adjustment; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards