Establishing normative data for the Functional Dexterity Test in typically developing children aged 3-5 years

Area of Science:

• Pediatric assessment
• Hand dexterity evaluation
• Developmental norms

Background:

• The Functional Dexterity Test (FDT) is a standard pegboard test for hand dexterity.
• Existing normative data for the FDT are limited in pediatric populations.
• This study aims to expand pediatric FDT data for improved clinical use.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish normative data for the FDT in typically developing children aged 3-5 years in Montreal.
• To assess the intrarater and interrater reliability of the FDT in this age group.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 267 children aged 3-5 years from diverse backgrounds in Montreal.
• The Functional Dexterity Test (FDT) was administered to participants.
• Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, t-tests, ANOVA, and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC).

Main Results:

• Normative FDT data were collected from 267 children (51% female).
• Significant age-related differences in FDT scores were observed (P < .01), with scores improving with age.
• No significant gender differences were found. Excellent interrater (ICC=0.89-0.98) and intrarater (ICC=0.83-0.99) reliabilities were confirmed.

Conclusions:

• Standardized pediatric instructions, scoring, and normative data enhance FDT clinical interpretation for preschoolers.
• The FDT is a reliable tool for assessing hand dexterity in children aged 3-5 years.
• Future research should expand normative data to older children and broader geographic areas.