Development of a Cognitive Ability Test for 2-Year-Olds with Motor or Speech Delays

Abstract

Items proposed for estimating intelligence of children 2 years of age were studied and found ready for experimental use as a downward extension of the Pictorial Test of Intelligence (French, 1964). The items require neither speech nor manipulation of objects by the child. Each child responded to the experimental items and the Mental portion of the Bayley Scales of Infant Development (BSID). Biserial correlations for each new item with the BSID were determined, as were difficulty indices, and estimates of internal consistency. Items then were rearranged in order of difficulty or eliminated based on the difficulty and/or biserial correlations. A high correlation of the experimental items and BSID-Mental Scale scores suggests that cognitive development between 21 and 29 months can be determined for children without speech and/or fine motor skill, but who have near-normal hearing and visual acuity and who understand English.