Comparison of Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales-Survey Form age equivalent and standard score with the Bayley Mental...

Area of Science:

• Developmental Psychology
• Pediatric Neurodevelopment
• Clinical Assessment

Background:

• The Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales-Survey Form (VABS-SF) is commonly used to assess developmental delay in infants.
• Concerns exist regarding the reliability of VABS-SF standard scores versus age equivalents for this population.
• High-risk infants require precise developmental evaluations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the diagnostic utility of VABS-SF standard scores and age equivalents against the Bayley Scales' Mental Development Index in 12-month-old high-risk infants.
• To investigate potential overestimation of adaptive behavior using VABS-SF in infants suspected of developmental delay.

Main Methods:

• Administered VABS-SF (standard score and age equivalent) and Bayley Scales of Infant Development to 44 high-risk infants aged 12 months.
• Calculated a developmental quotient using VABS-SF age equivalent and VABS-SF standard score.
• Compared VABS-SF derived quotients with the Bayley Mental Development Index.

Main Results:

• The mean VABS-SF standard score was significantly higher than both the VABS-SF age equivalent quotient and the Bayley Mental Development Index.
• This suggests a potential inflation of scores when using the VABS-SF standard score in this cohort.
• The VABS-SF age equivalent also showed discrepancies when compared to the Bayley scales.

Conclusions:

• The VABS-SF standard score may not accurately reflect the developmental status of high-risk 12-month-old infants, potentially leading to misinterpretation of developmental delay.
• Implications for clinical practice suggest caution when interpreting VABS-SF age equivalents for evaluating developmental delay in vulnerable infant populations.
• Further research is needed to refine the use of VABS-SF in early childhood neurodevelopmental assessments.