Infant Toddler Development Training
Module 3, Lesson 2
Read and study Figure 5: Score Summary for Jim's performance on the Battelle Developmental Inventory and the Case Study below. Jim is 32 months old.
CASE STUDY 1: JIM
Date of Birth: 09-10-01
Date of Test: 05-12-04 Chronological Age: 2-8
Jim is a 2 year, 8 month-old boy. He was screened for possible placement in November 2003. The screening results are as follows:
- Developmental Activities Screening Inventory developmental age: 20 months
- Vineland Social Maturity Scale age equivalent: 20 months
On May 02, 2004, the BDI Screening Test was administered. The results indicated that he very likely had deficits in eight of the nine Screening Test components as well as the Total Test; performance in the remaining components was borderline. As a result, it was recommended that Jim be referred for a complete assessment with the entire BDI-2. During the administration of the BDI-2, Jim was uncooperative and withdrawn. His caregivers have stated that he often behaves this way at the child care center. Him mother has indicated that she is concerned that he does not talk as well as his two cousins that are a little younger than he is and the children in the neighborhood don't like to play with him.
- TEST INTERPRETATION. Jim's overall score falls significantly below the expected level for a child in his age group (percentile rank 1, and his standard score is 1). His domain scores vary, with adaptive skills in the average range, cognitive skills and communication skills in the borderline range, and personal-social and motor skills showing significant delay. The uncooperative behavior that Jim displayed during administration may have a negative effect on his scores.
- PERSONAL-SOCIAL. When compared with other children in Jim's age group, he demonstrated adequate development in skills relating to adult interaction, self-concept, coping, and social roles. However, he demonstrated significant delays in expression of feeling/affect and peer interaction. Overall, Jim's personal-social skills are average for an 18 month-old child. He is beginning to respond to adult social contact, enjoys playing with others, and occasionally enjoys being read to. He is also beginning to follow directions relating to daily routines.
- ADAPTIVE. In the adaptive domain, Jim demonstrates average development for his age. Jim's overall adaptive skills are at the 28 month level.
- MOTOR. In this domain, Jim shows significant delay in skills related to locomotion and perceptual-motor, gross-, and fine-motor development. Compared with other children his age, body coordination is also delayed. Jim's withdrawal mood may have contributed to his depressed scores. Jim's gross-motor skills are at the 19-month level, and his fine-motor skills are at the 13-month level. Overall, his motor skills are at the 16-month level.
- COMMUNICATION. Compared with other children within the same age group, Jim's expressive and receptive language skills are mildly delayed. His overall communication skills are at the 21-month level.
- COGNITIVE. In the cognitive domain, his skills are reasonably varied. Perceptual discrimination is well below average for his age group. Memory and conceptual skills are slightly below average for his age group. Reasoning and academic skills indicate normal development. Overall, Jim is at the 23-month level in his cognitive development.
In interpreting the scores for Jim, note his percentile rank. Based on the percentile rank, what would some of his strengths and weaknesses be? Remember if a child scores at the 50th percentile, he is performing at an average level.
In looking at the percentile scores for the sub-domains, it would appear that Jim is scoring above average in toileting and reasoning and academic skills.
Note the age scores in months for each of the domains. Is he scoring at age level in any area? According to Early Steps, a child is eligible for services if he demonstrates a delay of 25% in terms of months. Since Jim is 32 months of age. A 25% delay would be 24 months. We must ask ourselves in what domains are Jim's age scores below 24 months. One notes that his age equivalent score is below 24 months in the personal-social, motor, communication and cognitive (although just barely). His age equivalent total score is below 24 months so Jim qualifies for services based on his age equivalent scores on the BDI II.
Now note the Standard Score column which is the third column. The mean Standard Score on the BDI II is 50 for the total score and domain scores. Is Jim scoring above the mean in any area? The standard deviation on the BDI is 21 points for the total score and domain score. One standard deviation below the mean would be 29. Two standard deviations below the mean would be a standard score of 8. Jim's total standard score more than 1 ½ standard deviations below the mean as are his scores in the personal-social , motor, and communication. His scores in the cognitive and adaptive domains are not 1 ½ standard deviations below the mean. Because Jim is scoring at least 1 ½ standard deviations below the mean in at least one area of development, he would be eligible for early intervention services.
Since Jim would participate in further assessment in order to determine IFSP goals, in which areas should the team decide to get further information?
Lesson 2 Highlights
In this lesson, evaluation and assessment procedures were presented. Various strategies were presented in collecting information for instructional decision making. Through the activities, you are given an opportunity to interpret a variety of evaluation and assessment information related to instructional decision-making.
Mindes, G. (2003). Assessing young children (2nd ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Merrill.
Shackelford, Jo (2002). Informed clinical opinion. NECTAC Notes. Issue No 10 National Early Childhood TA Center. Chapel Hill, NC.
Wortham, S.C. (2005). Assessment in early childhood education (4th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Merrill.
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