The Targeted Motor Control Screening Tool Is Valid for 4-Year-Old Children

Area of Science:

• Developmental Pediatrics
• Motor Control Assessment
• Early Childhood Development

Background:

• Early identification of motor delays is crucial for timely intervention.
• Validated screening tools are essential for accurate developmental assessment in young children.
• The Targeted Motor Control (TMC) tool requires validation for use in 4-year-old populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the validity of the Targeted Motor Control (TMC) screening tool.
• To compare the TMC tool against the Neurosensory Motor Developmental Assessment (NSMDA) in 4-year-old children.

Main Methods:

• A single cohort observational study was conducted.
• Seventy-six children aged 3 years 9 months to 4 years 5 months participated.
• Children completed both the TMC and NSMDA assessments in a randomized order.

Main Results:

• Moderate positive correlations were found between the TMC and NSMDA overall and in specific areas (r=0.40-0.67).
• A low positive correlation was observed between the NSMDA sensorimotor grade and TMC sensory score (r=0.35).
• An optimal TMC cut-off score of <9 demonstrated 82.4% sensitivity and 66.7% specificity for identifying children at risk.

Conclusions:

• The TMC is a valid performance-based screening tool for identifying 4-year-olds at risk of motor delay.
• The TMC facilitates early identification of developmental concerns, enabling timely intervention.
• Utilizing validated screening tools like the TMC is recommended for children with potential developmental issues.