A novel measure of matching categories for early development: Item creation and pilot feasibility study.
Emma Condy, Aaron J Kaat, Lindsey Becker and 6 others
PMID 34049209WHAT IT FOUND
Most children with developmental delays could engage with a new tablet-based concept matching task, but many struggled with the dragging motion.
This pilot shows the format is feasible, but the interface needs changes to reduce motor demands before clinical use.
Key findings
01In the pilot, 12 of 15 participants passed the teaching items, demonstrating basic feasibility for this population.
02Motor difficulties were a primary barrier, with 3 of 12 participants who passed teaching items still struggling with the dragging function during live items.
03A pre-pilot indicated that 6 of 8 children engaged with the tablet interface, supporting the use of technology over traditional manipulatives for this age range.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
Very small sample size (15 children in the pilot, 8 in the pre-pilot). The study did not measure the accuracy or cognitive validity of the test items, only whether children could physically interact with the tablet and understand the instructions. Participants had neurodevelopmental delays, but the range of severity and specific diagnoses was broad, making it hard to generalize to specific clinical populations. The test is not yet available for clinical use; it is still in the development phase.
Declared interests
The paper does not list any specific conflicts of interest or funding sources in the provided text.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret this as evidence that tablet-based cognitive testing is more accurate than traditional testing. The study only showed that children could physically use the tablet, not that the test correctly measured their concept formation abilities.