Concurrent validity in language and motor domains on the Vineland-3 and Mullen Scales of Early Learning in young children with Down syndrome.
Chelsea La Valle, Sophie Hurewitz, McKena Geiger and 3 others
PMID 40054301WHAT IT FOUND
For young children with Down syndrome, parent-reported Vineland-3 scores closely matched direct Mullen assessment scores in language and motor domains.
This suggests remote parent interviews can effectively monitor developmental progress when in-person testing is difficult or impossible.
Key findings
01There was no significant difference between the direct Mullen assessment and the parent-reported Vineland-3 scores across language and motor domains.
02Scores from the two measures showed strong to very strong positive associations and moderate to substantial agreement.
03The Vineland-3 parent interview offers a feasible alternative to in-person direct assessment for monitoring progress, particularly when travel or engagement is a barrier.
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
The sample size was small (23 children) and derived from a convenience sample, limiting generalizability. Data was collected at a single time point, so the study cannot confirm if the two measures track developmental progress at the same rate over time. Some participants were recruited from a hospital Down syndrome clinic and may have been more medically complex or delayed than the general population. The study used Age Equivalent scores, which are less reliable than standard scores for comparing between individuals, though they were chosen to better reflect individual progress. There was a small time gap (average 5.74 days) between the two assessments, which could introduce minor variability.
Declared interests
The authors declared no competing financial interests or personal relationships.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume the two measures are interchangeable for all clinical decisions. While they agree on average, the Vineland-3 parent report tended to yield slightly higher scores for expressive language and fine motor skills than the direct Mullen assessment. Clinicians should be aware that parent reports may overestimate these specific skills compared to direct observation in a clinic setting.