[The use of computer technology in pediatric neuropsychology]

The paper is dedicated to creating methods of computerized diagnostics adequate to the problems of children neuropsychology. An original battery, based on the principle of psychometric approach to diagnostics, was used. Z-scaling was utilized in processing the data. 39 children with spastic hemiparesis, aged 9-10 years, and 40 healthy children, aged 8-9 years, were examined. The results were compared to the age norms and were recalculated into Z-scales; thus it became feasible to discern reliable deviation of the parameters from the mean level, taking into account their variance. Further processing of the data obtained was carried out using a special procedure based on Bayes method. This procedure permitted not only to evaluate the mean group characteristics of the children with focal brain damages but also to obtain individual topic diagnoses. Validity of the method was tested. 85% coincidence of the clinical and test results was reached. A conclusion is drawn on the reliability of this method for diagnosing focal brain damages in children with residual encephalopathies. Using this computerized procedure is a promising direction in further advance of children neuropsychology methods.