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Updated: Jun 27, 2026
The Multiple Sclerosis Performance Test MSPT: An iPad-Based Disability Assessment Tool
Published on: June 30, 2014
Clinical utility of brief screening measures during neuropsychological consultation for pediatric onset multiple
Ashley Nguyen-Martinez1, Brooke Weigand1, Kelly Wolfe1
1Children's Hospital Colorado, Department of Pediatrics, Section of Child Neurology, University of Colorado, School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA.
Insights
Screening questionnaires for pediatric multiple sclerosis (MS) may not fully identify cognitive impairment alone. Caregiver ratings offer valuable insights when combined with neuropsychological testing for children with MS.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Pediatric Neurology
- Cognitive Psychology
Background:
- Pediatric-onset multiple sclerosis (POMS) affects 2-5% of MS patients, increasing cognitive impairment risk.
- Neuropsychological screening questionnaires are increasingly used in pediatric care.
- This study evaluates the utility of CLDQ and Peds PCF for POMS cognitive impairment detection.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the clinical utility of the Colorado Learning Difficulties Questionnaire (CLDQ) and Pediatric Perceived Cognitive Functioning (Peds PCF) screening measures.
- To identify cognitive impairment in pediatric-onset multiple sclerosis (POMS) patients during neuropsychological evaluations.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective data analysis from a single pediatric hospital's electronic medical records.
- Inclusion of 49 participants (69% female, 43% Hispanic/Latinx, mean age 16.1 years).
- Correlation analyses using Spearman's rho to compare screening measures with traditional neuropsychological tests.
Main Results:
- Strong correlations found between caregiver screening ratings and neuropsychological performance.
- Medium effect sizes observed for both CLDQ (rho = -.321 to -.563) and Peds PCF (rho = .308 to .444).
- Exploratory cut-points using ROC analysis and Youden indices were discussed.
Conclusions:
- Screening questionnaires alone may lack sensitivity for identifying cognitive impairments in children with POMS.
- Caregiver ratings provide qualitatively meaningful information when used alongside neuropsychological testing.
- Screening tools can help pediatric neuropsychologists focus interviews and triage referrals effectively.
Objective:
Pediatric-onset multiple sclerosis (POMS) accounts for approximately 2 to 5% of all individuals with MS and is associated with an increased risk for cognitive impairment. In recent years, neuropsychological screening questionnaires have been increasingly utilized for pediatric populations in multidisciplinary settings. This study examines the clinical utility of the Colorado Learning Difficulties Questionnaire (CLDQ) and Pediatric Perceived Cognitive Functioning (Peds PCF) screening measures for identifying cognitive impairment in persons with POMS during a target neuropsychological evaluation.
Method:
Retrospective data was gathered from electronic medical records at a single pediatric hospital.
Results:
Forty-nine participants were included (69% female; 43% Hispanic/Latinx; mean age = 16.1 years old, range = 9.9 to 20.6 years old). Correlation analyses demonstrated strong interrelatedness between caregiver ratings on screening measures and performance on traditional neuropsychological measures. Effect sizes were medium across comparisons (CLDQ: Spearman's rho = -.321 to -.563; PedsPCF: Spearman's rho = .308 to .444). Exploratory cut-points using receiver operating characteristic analysis and Youden indices are also discussed.
Conclusions:
Comparison of scores across caregiver rating questionnaires and on a targeted neuropsychological battery suggests that the screening surveys alone may not be sensitive enough to identify children with cognitive impairments, but ratings may provide qualitatively meaningful information along with neuropsychological testing. This study illustrates how pediatric neuropsychologists can leverage screening tools to focus consultative interviews and effectively triage referrals for evaluation within an academic medical setting.
