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Early identification of motor delay: Family-centred screening tool
1Professor Emerita in the Department of Physical Therapy in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver. susan.harris@ubc.ca.
Insights
The Harris Infant Neuromotor Test (HINT) screens for infant motor delays. Early identification using HINT can lead to crucial early intervention services for infants and families.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Neuromotor Assessment
- Infant Development Screening
Background:
- Motor delays in infancy can signify broader developmental issues or specific conditions like cerebral palsy.
- Parental observations of motor development are significant predictors of later diagnoses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce the Harris Infant Neuromotor Test (HINT).
- To highlight its utility in screening for motor delay in infants under one year old.
- To present the test utilizing Canadian norms from 2010.
Main Methods:
- The HINT has undergone extensive research validating its reliability (intrarater, interrater, test-retest) and validity (content, concurrent, predictive, known-groups).
- Sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values of parental concerns assessed by HINT were evaluated.
- The majority of supporting evidence is classified as Level II.
Main Results:
- Early diagnosis of motor delays in the first year is critical.
- Parental concerns regarding motor development strongly predict future diagnoses of motor delay.
- The HINT is a valuable tool for identifying these early signs.
Conclusions:
- Early identification of developmental motor delays is essential.
- Screening tools like the HINT facilitate timely referrals for early intervention.
- Early intervention can significantly benefit infants and their families.
Objective:
To describe the Harris Infant Neuromotor Test (HINT), an infant neuromotor test using Canadian norms published in 2010 that could be used to screen for motor delay during the first year of life.
Quality Of Evidence:
Extensive research has been published on the intrarater, interrater, and test-retest reliability and the content, concurrent, predictive, and known-groups validity of the HINT, as well as on the sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of parental concerns, as assessed by the HINT. Most evidence is level II.
Main Message:
Diagnosing motor delays during the first year of life is important because these often indicate more generalized developmental delays or specific disabilities, such as cerebral palsy. Parental concerns about their children's motor development are strongly predictive of subsequent diagnoses involving motor delay.
Conclusion:
Only through early identification of developmental motor delays, initially with screening tools such as the HINT, is it possible to provide referrals for early intervention that could benefit both the infant and the family.
