Serial Testing of Older Children as a Basis for Recommending Comprehensive Neuropsychological Evaluation

The aim of this study was to develop a short screening battery that would predict whether older children would show significant impairment on comprehensive neuropsychological testing. The screening battery was subdivided into two phases. Phase 1 was intended as a broad catchment effort; Phase 2 was designed to be a more detailed and selective procedure. Administration of the full set of screening tests requires about 45 minutes. Their predictive validity was assessed using the Neuropsychological Deficit Scale (NDS), which summarizes results in the entire Halstead-Reitan Neuropsychological Test Battery for Older Children. Cutoff scores and guidelines for interpretation of the screening tests were developed, and the results were substantially correct in identifying children who performed normally versus children who were impaired on the testing and therefore required comprehensive testing to evaluate their neuropsychological status and deficits.