Early Developmental Screening: Sensitivity and Specificity of Chronological and Adjusted Scores

Authors:
  • LPLynn E. Pinnell
    Lynn E. Pinnell
  • JDJohanna Darrah
    Johanna Darrah
  • PBPaul J. Byrne
    Paul J. Byrne
  • MWM Joseph Watt
    M Joseph Watt

Abstract
The motor development of 75 preterm infants was assessed at 4 months chronological and 4 months adjusted ages using the Movement Assessment of Infants (MAI). Infants were followed until 18 months old when neurological and motor outcomes were assessed by a developmental pediatrician, and outcomes were classified as normal, suspicious, or abnormal. Sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values were calculated at the two points in time using a variety of cutoff MAI scores. At 4 months, the practice of adjusting for prematurity resulted in the better combination of screening rates for the detection of both neurologically abnormal and neurologically abnormal/suspicious children. To obtain comparable rates, different cutoff MAI scores were used to identify the neurologically abnormal versus the neurologically abnormal/suspicious children. The optimal combination of sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values varies according to the age of assessment, the disorders being identified, and the cutoff scores employed.