[Developmental changes in the kiddie continuous performance test and its appropriate age for application]

Area of Science:

• Child Psychology
• Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Context:

• The Kiddie Continuous Performance Test (K-CPT) is a tool for assessing attention in children.
• Previous research has not fully established its developmental trajectory and gender-specific performance across a wide age range.

Purpose:

• To investigate developmental changes in K-CPT performance from preschool to adolescence.
• To identify gender differences in K-CPT measures.
• To establish normative data for clinical applications and determine the test's appropriate age range.

Summary:

• This study analyzed K-CPT performance in 327 children aged 4-18, examining omission errors (OE), commission errors (CE), reaction time (HRT), HRT variability (HRTSE), perceptual sensitivity (d'), and response style (beta).
• Significant developmental changes were observed across all measures, with OE and beta showing floor effects around age 10, while CE, HRT, HRTSE, and d' developed through adolescence.
• Gender differences were noted, with males exhibiting more errors and lower perceptual sensitivity than females.

Impact:

• The findings support the K-CPT's utility for preschoolers and school-aged children.
• Results suggest the K-CPT is a valuable diagnostic tool for identifying developmental disorders in children.
• This research provides essential normative data for the K-CPT, enhancing its clinical applicability.