Successful application of a dynamic assessment procedure with deaf students between the ages of four and eight years

Abstract

This study of 13 severe to profoundly deaf children between the ages of four and eight years demonstrates the utility of a dynamic assessment procedure, the Application of Cognitive Functions scale (ACFS), with this population. The children made significant positive pre-test to post-test gains on four of the six subtests, with a strong tendency toward positive gains on a fifth (construct validity). The behaviour observation rating scale, embedded within the ACFS, showed significant positive relationships with most subtests, particularly the behaviours rated during the mediation phase, compared with weaker associations for behaviours during the static pre-test phase (construct validity). Five of the six subtests showed significant correlations with total score (intratest reliability). IQ correlated moderately with ACFS pre-test and not at all with post-test, and chronological age correlated moderately with posttest and not at all with pre-test.