Validity of a Computerized Cognitive Battery in Children and Adolescents with Neurological Diagnoses
Vickie Plourde1,2, Marianne Hrabok3,4, Elisabeth M S Sherman5
1Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Insights
This study validates the CNS Vital Signs (CNSVS) computerized cognitive tests for pediatric neurological patients. While generally valid, results show many cognitive abilities are interrelated.
Area of Science:
- Neuropsychology
- Pediatric Neurology
- Cognitive Assessment
Background:
- Computerized cognitive batteries are increasingly used but their validity in pediatric populations requires further investigation.
- CNS Vital Signs (CNSVS) is a widely used computerized cognitive assessment tool.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the convergent and divergent validity of the CNSVS in a clinical pediatric sample with neurological diagnoses.
- To assess the reliability of CNSVS in evaluating cognitive functions in children.
Main Methods:
- 123 pediatric patients with neurological diagnoses were assessed in a tertiary care setting.
- Participants completed the CNSVS battery (assessing Memory, Psychomotor Speed, Reaction Time, Complex Attention, Cognitive Flexibility) and traditional paper-and-pencil neuropsychological tests.
- Correlations between CNSVS domains and neuropsychological measures were analyzed.
Main Results:
- Most correlations between CNSVS domains and neuropsychological measures of similar constructs were of medium strength.
- Correlations between tests of similar constructs were not significantly higher than those between dissimilar constructs, except for psychomotor speed.
- This suggests moderate convergent validity but highlights inter-correlations among cognitive abilities.
Conclusions:
- The findings provide support for the validity of the CNSVS battery in pediatric neurological patients.
- Caution is advised as many cognitive abilities assessed are inherently inter-correlated.
- Further research may explore the clinical utility and specific applications of CNSVS in pediatrics.
Objective:
Little is known about the validity of computerized cognitive batteries, such as CNS Vital Signs (CNSVS), in pediatric patients. The purpose of this study was to examine convergent and divergent validity of the CNSVS in a clinical pediatric sample with neurological diagnoses.
Method:
Participants included 123 pediatric patients assessed in a tertiary care setting as part of clinical care. CNSVS (Memory, Psychomotor Speed, Reaction Time, Complex Attention, and Cognitive Flexibility domains, and a Neurocognition Index) and paper-and-pencil neuropsychological measures assessing learning, memory, processing speed, reaction time, attention, and executive functioning were administered.
Results:
Most correlations between CNSVS domain scores and neuropsychological measures assessing similar constructs were medium in strength. With the exception of stronger correlations between psychomotor speed tests, correlations between tests of similar constructs were not significantly higher than those between dissimilar constructs.
Conclusions:
These results provide support for validity of the CNSVS battery, but also caution that many abilities are inter-correlated.
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