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Reliability and validity of the assessment of neurological soft-signs in children with and without attention-deficit-hyperactivity disorder

Gustafsson, Peik LU ; Svedin, Carl Göran LU ; Ericsson, Ingegerd ; Lindén, Christian LU ; Karlsson, Magnus LU and Thernlund, Gunilla LU (2010) In Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology 52(4). p.364-370
Abstract
AIM To study the value and reliability of an examination of neurological soft-signs, often used in Sweden, in the assessment of children with attentiondeficit– hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), by examining children with and without ADHD, as diagnosed by an experienced clinician using the DSM-III-R.

METHOD We have examined interrater reliability (26males, nine females; age range 5y 6mo–11y), internal consistency (94males, 43 females; age range 5y 6mo–11y), test–retest reliability (12 males, eight females; age range 6–9y), and validity (79 males, 33 females; age range 5y 6mo–9y).

RESULTS The sum of the scores for the items on the examination had good interrater reliability (intraclass correlation [ICC] 0.95) and acceptable... (More)
AIM To study the value and reliability of an examination of neurological soft-signs, often used in Sweden, in the assessment of children with attentiondeficit– hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), by examining children with and without ADHD, as diagnosed by an experienced clinician using the DSM-III-R.

METHOD We have examined interrater reliability (26males, nine females; age range 5y 6mo–11y), internal consistency (94males, 43 females; age range 5y 6mo–11y), test–retest reliability (12 males, eight females; age range 6–9y), and validity (79 males, 33 females; age range 5y 6mo–9y).

RESULTS The sum of the scores for the items on the examination had good interrater reliability (intraclass correlation [ICC] 0.95) and acceptable internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha 0.76). The test–retest study also showed good reliability (ICC 0.91). There weremodest associations between the examination and the assessment of motor function made by the physical education teacher (ICC 0.37)

as well as from the parents’ description (ICC 0.39). The examination of neurological soft-signs had a sensitivity of 0.80 and a specificity of 0.76 in predicting motor problems as evaluated by the physical education teacher.

INTERPRETATION The reliability and validity of this examination seem to be good and can be recommended for clinical practice and research. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology
volume
52
issue
4
pages
364 - 370
publisher
John Wiley & Sons Inc.
external identifiers
  • pmid:19694777
  • wos:000275205100012
  • scopus:77951167552
ISSN
0012-1622
DOI
10.1111/j.1469-8749.2009.03407.x
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
162ba7a9-0d03-4b7a-8821-1fc540ff5909 (old id 1467873)
alternative location
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1469-8749.2009.03407.x/abstract
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 09:53:13
date last changed
2022-02-24 20:13:21
@article{162ba7a9-0d03-4b7a-8821-1fc540ff5909,
  abstract     = {{AIM To study the value and reliability of an examination of neurological soft-signs, often used in Sweden, in the assessment of children with attentiondeficit– hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), by examining children with and without ADHD, as diagnosed by an experienced clinician using the DSM-III-R.<br/><br>
METHOD We have examined interrater reliability (26males, nine females; age range 5y 6mo–11y), internal consistency (94males, 43 females; age range 5y 6mo–11y), test–retest reliability (12 males, eight females; age range 6–9y), and validity (79 males, 33 females; age range 5y 6mo–9y).<br/><br>
RESULTS The sum of the scores for the items on the examination had good interrater reliability (intraclass correlation [ICC] 0.95) and acceptable internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha 0.76). The test–retest study also showed good reliability (ICC 0.91). There weremodest associations between the examination and the assessment of motor function made by the physical education teacher (ICC 0.37)<br/><br>
as well as from the parents’ description (ICC 0.39). The examination of neurological soft-signs had a sensitivity of 0.80 and a specificity of 0.76 in predicting motor problems as evaluated by the physical education teacher.<br/><br>
INTERPRETATION The reliability and validity of this examination seem to be good and can be recommended for clinical practice and research.}},
  author       = {{Gustafsson, Peik and Svedin, Carl Göran and Ericsson, Ingegerd and Lindén, Christian and Karlsson, Magnus and Thernlund, Gunilla}},
  issn         = {{0012-1622}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{4}},
  pages        = {{364--370}},
  publisher    = {{John Wiley & Sons Inc.}},
  series       = {{Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology}},
  title        = {{Reliability and validity of the assessment of neurological soft-signs in children with and without attention-deficit-hyperactivity disorder}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-8749.2009.03407.x}},
  doi          = {{10.1111/j.1469-8749.2009.03407.x}},
  volume       = {{52}},
  year         = {{2010}},
}