New reference values for the Alberta Infant Motor Scale need to be established

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics
• Developmental Pediatrics
• Motor Development Assessment

Background:

• The Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS) is a widely used tool for assessing infant motor performance from birth to independent walking.
• Previous AIMS reference values were established in Canada between 1990-1992.
• The representativeness of Canadian AIMS data for other populations is unknown.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine if the existing Canadian AIMS reference values are applicable to Dutch children.
• To investigate the need for establishing new AIMS normative data for the Dutch infant population.

Main Methods:

• Motor performance of 100 Dutch infants (0-12 months) was assessed using the AIMS test.
• Percentile scores of Dutch infants were compared to the established Canadian norm population.

Main Results:

• Dutch infants scored significantly lower than the Canadian norm population (p < 0.001), with a mean percentile of 28.8.
• 75% of Dutch infants scored below the 50th percentile of the Canadian norms.
• Lower scores were observed across all age groups and could not be attributed to sex, race, or congenital disorders.

Conclusions:

• New reference values for the Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS) are necessary for Dutch children aged 0-12 months.
• It is recommended to assess the need for updated normative data in other European countries as well.