scholarly journals Mullen Scales of Early Learning Adaptation for Assessment of Indian Children and Application to Tuberculous Meningitis

Author(s):  
Smita Nimkar ◽  
Suvarna Joshi ◽  
Aarti Kinikar ◽  
Chhaya Valvi ◽  
D Bella Devaleenal ◽  
...  

Abstract Introduction Tuberculous meningitis (TBM) results in significant morbidity and mortality among children worldwide. Associated neurocognitive complications are common but not well characterized. The Mullen Scales of Early Learning (MSEL), a well-established measure for assessment of neurodevelopment, has not yet been adapted for use in India. This study’s goal was to adapt the MSEL for local language and culture to assess neurocognition among children in India, and apply the adapted measure for assessment of children with TBM. Methods Administration of MSEL domains was culturally adapted. Robust translation procedures for instructions took place for three local languages: Marathi, Hindi and Tamil. Multilingual staff compared instructions against the original version for accuracy. The MSEL stimuli and instructions were reviewed by psychologists and pediatricians in India to identify items concerning for cultural bias. Results MSEL stimuli unfamiliar to children in this setting were identified and modified within Visual Reception, Fine-Motor, Receptive Language and Expressive Language Scales. Item category was maintained for adaptations of items visually or linguistically different from those observed in daily life. Adjusted items were administered to six typically developing children to determine modification utility. Two children diagnosed with confirmed TBM (ages 11 and 29 months) were evaluated with the adapted MSEL before receiving study medications. Skills were below age-expectation across visual reception, fine motor and expressive language domains. Conclusions This is the first study to assess children with TBM using the MSEL adapted for use in India. Future studies in larger groups of Indian children are warranted to validate the adapted measure.

2017 ◽  
Vol 55 (6) ◽  
pp. 419-431 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tessa Clarkson ◽  
Jocelyn LeBlanc ◽  
Geneva DeGregorio ◽  
Vanessa Vogel-Farley ◽  
Katherine Barnes ◽  
...  

Abstract Rett Syndrome (RTT) is characterized by severe impairment in fine motor (FM) and expressive language (EL) function, making accurate evaluations of development difficult with standardized assessm ents. In this study, the administration and scoring of the Mullen Scales of Early Learning (MSEL) were adapted to eliminate the confounding effects of FM and EL impairments in assessing development. Forty-seven girls with RTT were assessed with the Adapted-MSEL (MSEL-A), a subset (n = 30) was also assessed using the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales-Second Edition (Vineland-II) and a further subset (n = 17) was assessed using an eye-tracking version of the MSEL (MSEL-ET). Participants performed better on the visual reception (VR) and receptive language (RL) domains compared to the FM and EL domains on the MSEL-A. Individual performance on each domain was independent of other domains. Corresponding MSEL-A and Vineland-II domains were significantly correlated. The MSEL-ET was as accurate as the MSEL-A in assessing VR and RL, yet took a 44% less time. Results suggested that the MSEL-A and the MSEL-ET could be viable measures for accurately assessing developmental domains in children with RTT.


2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Maureen Black ◽  
Doris Yimgang ◽  
Kristen Hurley ◽  
Kimberly Harding ◽  
Silvia Fernandez-Rao ◽  
...  

Abstract Objectives In low and middle-income countries, early child development (ECD) is associated with stunting, but the association with length-for-age z-scores (LAZ) is understudied. The objective is to examine whether the association with ECD among infants extends beyond stunting to LAZ and whether it is altered by nurturance or inflammation. Methods Sample: 513 infants (mean age 8.6 months, SD 2.2), 20% stunted (LAZ < -2) participated in a randomized controlled trial of micronutrient powder (MNP) in rural India. Following baseline, infants were re-evaluated at 6- and 12-months. LAZ was calculated from measured length, inflammation (C-reactive protein, CRP) from blood draw; nurturance from home observation (HOME Inventory), and ECD from Mullens Early Learning Scale (visual reception, fine/gross motor and receptive/expressive language). Linear mixed effects models were conducted, accounting for repeated measures and clustering, adjusted for child age, anemia, maternal education, household assets, and intervention. LAZ interactions with CRP and HOME scores were tested. Results LAZ was significantly positively associated with all ECD domains over time. HOME was positively associated with visual reception and expressive language (Table 1). HOME interactions were marginal for fine motor (P = 0.058) and significant for receptive language (P = 0.015). For HOME scores < -1 SD, LAZ was positively related to fine motor and receptive language, for HOME scores >1 SD, LAZ was not related to ECD (Figure 1). CRP was not related to ECD and CRP interaction was not significant. Conclusions The positive association between LAZ and ECD illustrates vulnerability prior to the threshold of stunting. Maternal nurturance is positively associated with multiple domains of infants’ ECD and attenuates relations between LAZ and receptive language and fine motor. Inflammation (measured by CRP) is not associated with ECD. Linear growth within normal and nurturant caregiving are needed to promote ECD. Funding Sources Mathile Institute for the Advancement of Human Nutrition, Nutrition International, Sackler Institute for Nutrition Science of the New York Academy of Sciences.


2020 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jenny Luu ◽  
Rachel Jellett ◽  
Maya Yaari ◽  
Melissa Gilbert ◽  
Josephine Barbaro

Introduction: Previous research suggests children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD or “autism”) born extremely and very preterm face substantially delayed development than their peers born full-term. Further, children born preterm are proposed to show a unique behavioral phenotype, which may overlap with characteristics of autism, making it difficult to disentangle their clinical presentation. To clarify the presentation of autism in children born preterm, this study examined differences in key indicators of child development (expressive language, receptive language, fine motor, and visual reception) and characteristics of autism (social affect and repetitive, restricted behaviors).Materials and Methods: One fifty-eight children (136 full-term, twenty-two preterm) diagnosed with autism, aged 22–34 months, were identified prospectively using the Social Attention and Communication Surveillance tools during community-based, developmental surveillance checks in the second year of life. Those identified at “high likelihood” of an autism diagnosis were administered the Mullen Scales of Early Learning and the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule.Results: The children born preterm and full-term did not differ significantly in their fine motor, visual reception, expressive language, or receptive language skills. No significant differences in social affect and repetitive and restrictive behavior traits were found.Discussion: The findings of this study differs from previous research where children diagnosed with autism born very or extremely preterm were developmentally delayed and had greater autistic traits than their term-born peers. These null findings may relate to the large proportion of children born moderate to late preterm in this sample. This study was unique in its use of a community-based, prospectively identified sample of children diagnosed with autism at an early age. It may be that children in these groups differ from clinic- and hospital-based samples, that potential differences emerge later in development, or that within the autism spectrum, children born preterm and full-term develop similarly. It was concluded that within the current sample, at 2 years of age, children diagnosed with autism born preterm are similar to their peers born full-term. Thus, when clinicians identify characteristics of autism in children born preterm, it is important to refer the child for a diagnostic assessment for autism.


2019 ◽  
Vol 34 (6) ◽  
pp. 1075-1075
Author(s):  
G Andrews ◽  
K Eddy ◽  
A Gibson

Abstract Objective Corpus callosum agenesis (ACC) is a congenital birth defect in which the corpus callosum fails to fully form (Badaruddin, et al., 2007). The partial or complete absence of a corpus callosum affects specific functioning (Brown, Jeeves, Dietrich, & Burnison, 1999) resulting in behavioral, social, and cognitive difficulties (Badaruddin, et al., 2007). We evaluated the development of infants and toddlers with ACC in cognition, language, and motor functioning. Methods Boys (n = 6) and girls (n = 4) ages 3 to 41 months were assessed utilizing the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development-Third Edition, a test designed to assess the developmental functioning in 5 domains: motor, social-emotional, adaptive behavior, cognitive, and language (Bayley, 2006). Volunteers were assessed during ACC conferences. Results Cognitive, language and motor index scores were significantly correlated but not age. Moderate to large effect sizes (Cohens d) were found. Girls had lower Cognitive Index scores and were below average; boys mean score was within the average range. Large effect sizes for receptive and expressive language. Boys scored within the low average range; girls below average for receptive language. For expressive language, girls fell in the borderline range, boys were low average. Gross motor was very low compared to age norms. Girls showed deficits in fine motor skill development; boys within the average range. Conclusions Global developmental deficits and gender differences occurred for infants and toddlers with ACC. Girls show more delays than boys. Outcomes suggest that delays can be measured well before entering school and supports early intervention services.


2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristen Hurley ◽  
Sylvia Fernandez-Rao ◽  
K Madhavan Nair ◽  
Nangalla Balakrishna ◽  
Kankipati Radhakrishna ◽  
...  

Abstract Objectives Nutritional deficiency and lack of early learning opportunities contribute to the loss of developmental potential. The objective is to evaluate the effects of an integrated nutrition and early learning intervention (ELI) on micronutrient status and the development of infants in rural India. Methods 513 infants (6–12mo) were enrolled from 26 villages in rural India and randomized using a 2 × 2 design to receive multiple micronutrient powders (MNP containing iron, zinc, vitamins A, B2, B12, C and folic acid) vs. placebo (B2) and EL vs. control. The ELI was based on the UNICEF-developed Care for Child Development. Baseline (BL), post-intervention (6 mo) and follow-up (12 mo) evaluations included Mullens Scales of Early Learning, anthropometry, and 2 ml venous blood (BL & 12 mo). Data were analyzed using linear mixed effects regression models with random village/subject intercepts accounting for site of recruitment and repeated measures. For biomarker outcomes, main effects of MNP was assessed. P-values of <0.05 considered statistically significant. For child development outcomes, main effects of MNP and ELI were analyzed separately, and three-way interactions (MNP*ELI*midline or MNP*ELI*end line) were tested. Results At baseline, the mean age of mothers was 22.9y (SD = 2.9) and 99.6% were married. Most mothers (84.2%) had attended some schooling. Mean infant age was 8.6 mo (SD = 2.2); 53.0% were male. Anemia prevalence was 66.4%. No significant baseline differences were found. At end line, infants in the MNP group had significantly higher hemoglobin (11 g/dl vs.10 g/dl) and ferritin (18.2ug/l vs.11.5 ug/l) values compared to infants in the placebo groups, respectively. Infants in the MNP group (mean = 39.5; SE = 0.6) versus placebo group (mean = 37.7; SE = 0.6) also scored significantly higher in expressive language and marginally higher in visual reception (mean = 42.5; SE = 0.5; P = 0.06) and social-emotional behavior (mean = 24.1; SE = 0.2; P = 0.052), compared to the placebo (mean = 41.1; E = 0.6, mean = 23.5; SE = 0.2, respectively). Significant interactions in visual reception and expressive language performance showed that children who received either or both interventions had better scores than children who received neither. Conclusions Home MNP and EL interventions can improve infant MN status and development. Funding Sources Mathile Institute for the Advancement of Human Nutrition, Nutrition International, Sackler Institute for Nutrition Science of the New York Academy of Science.


Author(s):  
Juan Bornman ◽  
MaryAnn Romski ◽  
Kerstin Tonsing ◽  
Rose Sevcik ◽  
Robyn White ◽  
...  

Background: South African speech-language therapists have identified the need for culturally valid and sensitive assessment tools that can accommodate multiple languages and cover a reasonable age range. The Mullen Scales of Early Learning (MSEL) extend from birth to 68 months, contain five separate subscales including receptive language, expressive language, gross motor, fine motor and visual reception scale, are straightforward to administer and have been successfully used in other African countries, such as Uganda. It also identifies a child’s strengths and weaknesses and provides a solid foundation for intervention planning.Objectives: This research aimed to demonstrate the appropriateness and usefulness of the translated and culturally and linguistically adapted MSEL across four South African languages (Afrikaans, isiZulu, Setswana and South African English) through two sub-aims: (1) to describe differences, if any, in MSEL performance across language groups and (2) to describe differences, if any, in MSEL performance between age groups.Method: A total of 198 typically developing children between the ages of 21 and 68 months spread across the four language groups were individually assessed with the culturally and linguistically adapted and translated MSEL.Results: A one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed no statistically significant differences between the four language groups for total MSEL scores. A Welch’s one-way ANOVA showed that the total MSEL scores were significantly different between age groups.Conclusion: The translation and adaptation of the MSEL was successful and did not advantage or disadvantage children based on their home language, implying that linguistic equivalence was achieved. The MSEL results differed between age groups, suggesting that the measure was also successful in differentiating the performance of children at different developmental levels.


2010 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 54-58 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen Walker ◽  
Nadia Badawi ◽  
Robert Halliday ◽  
Sharon Laing

AbstractThis article reports mean scores on the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development (Version III) for 211 randomly selected healthy term (≥ 37 weeks gestation) Australian infants at one year of age. Mean scores were significantly different from standardised norms in all subscales except fine motor. Australian infants scored higher on cognitive and receptive language (p < .01) and lower on expressive language and gross motor (ps < .01) subscales. These findings raise questions regarding the validity of this test in the Australian population and suggest that the test be re-normed on Australian children for valid interpretation of scores in this cultural context.


2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 143-144
Author(s):  
David Karlo I. Equipaje ◽  
Deborah Natalia E. Singson

Studies related to developmental psychology have long recognized the importance of motor development but have recently begun to systematically map out its subsequent developmental pathways.  In many international studies, finding evidence on the effects of fine motor skills development on children's language skills with special needs (CSNs) has significantly grown much interest.  Fine motor skills and language skills play a vital role in a child's early development.  Hence, the study describes the level of performance in the fine motor domain, expressive language domain, and receptive language domain of preschool-aged CSNs of a private intervention center in Bacolod City during the school year 2019-2020. Likewise, it explores the existing relationship of the fine motor skills and language skills between the CSN's age and sex before and after participating in a fine motor development program.  Also, it determines the subsequent consequences of the fine motor development program on the expressive language skills and receptive language skills of the CSNs.


1989 ◽  
Vol 54 (1) ◽  
pp. 101-105 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Bruce Tomblin ◽  
Cynthia M. Shonrock ◽  
James C. Hardy

The extent to which the Minnesota Child Development Inventory (MCDI), could be used to estimate levels of language development in 2-year-old children was examined. Fifty-seven children between 23 and 28 months were given the Sequenced Inventory of Communication Development (SICD), and at the same time a parent completed the MCDI. In addition the mean length of utterance (MLU) was obtained for each child from a spontaneous speech sample. The MCDI Expressive Language scale was found to be a strong predictor of both the SICD Expressive scale and MLU. The MCDI Comprehension-Conceptual scale, presumably a receptive language measure, was moderately correlated with the SICD Receptive scale; however, it was also strongly correlated with the expressive measures. These results demonstrated that the Expressive Language scale of the MCDI was a valid predictor of expressive language for 2-year-old children. The MCDI Comprehension-Conceptual scale appeared to assess both receptive and expressive language, thus complicating its interpretation.


1990 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 393-407 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leslie Rescorla ◽  
Ellen Schwartz

ABSTRACTThis article describes a follow-up of 25 boys diagnosed as having specific expressive language delay (SELD) in the 24- to 31-month age period. At the time of diagnosis, all subjects had Bayley MDI scores above 85, Reynell Receptive Language Age scores within 4 months of their chronological age, and Reynell Expressive Language Age scores at least 5 months below chronological age; most had vocabularies of fewer than 50 words and few if any word combinations. At follow-up, 16 boys were 3 years old, 7 were 3½, and 2 were 4 years of age. When seen for follow-up, half the 25 boys still had very poor expressive language. These boys were speaking at best in short, telegraphic sentences, and many had moderately severe articulation disorders with quite poor intelligibility. The 12 boys with better outcome had a range of language skills. All spoke in sentences to some extent, and each displayed some mastery of early morphemes (prepositions, plurals, articles, progressive tense, and possessives). However, few if any of the children spoke in completely fluent, syntactically complex, and morphologically correct language. Problems with copula and auxiliary verbs, with past tense inflections, and with pronouns seemed especially common. This research suggests that children with SELD at 24 to 30 months are at considerable risk for continuing language problems.


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