Infant screening: the usefulness of the Bayley Infant Neurodevelopmental Screener and the Clinical Adaptive Test/Clinical Linguistic Auditory Milestone Scale

J Dev Behav Pediatr. 1998 Jun;19(3):155-61. doi: 10.1097/00004703-199806000-00002.

Abstract

We assessed the usefulness of the Bayley Infant Neurodevelopmental Screener (BINS) and the Clinical Adaptive Test/Clinical Linguistic Auditory Milestone Scale (CAT/CLAMS) for screening high-risk infant populations in a sample of 78 infants followed after premature birth and/or perinatal insults. Both measures were highly correlated with the Bayley Scales of Infant Development-II, but sensitivity and specificity analyses revealed disparities related to the tests administered and the cutoffs used. The BINS had optimal sensitivity (true positives) of 90% when referral was made for a BINS score of high or moderate. The CAT/CLAMS had excellent specificity (true negatives) of 95% to 98% but poor sensitivity (5%-36%). Until the cutoff issue can be clarified, clinicians should be cautious in using the CAT/CLAMS as the primary screening instrument in settings in which early identification of infants with developmental problems is the main goal.

MeSH terms

  • Chi-Square Distribution
  • Child Development / classification*
  • Developmental Disabilities / diagnosis*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Language Disorders / diagnosis*
  • Male
  • Neuropsychological Tests / standards*
  • Psychometrics / standards*
  • Sampling Studies
  • Sensitivity and Specificity