Nonverbal Intelligence Test Research Articles

Combining Intermittent Theta Burst Stimulation (iTBS) With Computerized Working Memory Training to Improve Language Abilities in Chronic Aphasia: A Pilot Case Study

ABSTRACT Background: Intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) administered to the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (LDLPFC) has been shown to advance working memory (WM) abilities. At the same time, WM training is widely used to enhance learning associated with low language skills. An emerging area of research is that of applying cortical stimulation as an adjunct to behavioural therapy to improve language abilities in people with aphasia (PWA) after stroke. Aim: The aim of this study was to pilot the efficacy of the iTBS protocol, targeting the LDLPFC in combination with computerized WM training by measuring the near-transfer effects on WM and fluid intelligence (Gf) and far-transfer effects on language functioning and quality of life (QoL) in an individual with stroke-induced chronic aphasia. Methods & Procedures: The participant was a 31-year old female who presented with chronic non-fluent aphasia, following a left-hemisphere stroke involving the left frontoparietal lobes. She showed prominent anomia with frequent occurrences of word-finding difficulties. The assessment battery included a screening measure of WM, a standardized aphasia battery, a non-verbal intelligence test, spontaneous speech samples, a procedural discourse task, and a questionnaire addressing quality of life. All measures were administered once at baseline, immediately after treatment was terminated, and once during follow-up testing, at 3 months post-treatment. The treatment program included 10 consecutive daily sessions of 30-minutes computer-assisted WM training preceded by 3-minutes of iTBS. Outcomes & Results: Statistically significant improvement from baseline to post-treatment was found only for the non-verbal intelligence measure, suggesting near-transfer effects. There was no improvement on the computerized WM screening measure. Although no other measures revealed a statistically significant difference, there was a trend towards better performance on untreated items of receptive and expressive language tasks (far-transfer). Conclusions: The findings revealed a trend for improvement in receptive and expressive language abilities in one individual with chronic aphasia. The iTBS protocol in combination with computerised WM training could be a promising treatment but further studies with larger number of participants are needed to establish its effectiveness for improvement of aphasia after stroke.

Effects of early and recent mercury and lead exposure on the neurodevelopment of children with elevated mercury and/or developmental delays during lactation: A follow-up study.

This follow-up study of 82 children investigated the potential impact of early and recent exposure to mercury and lead on their neurodevelopmental performance at 5-8 years of age (2017-2018). Early exposure of these children to mercury, methylmercury, and lead was assessed during lactation at 3-12 months old, as well as their mother's exposure using measurements from a cross-sectional study (2011-2013). Only infants who failed to pass the neurodevelopment screening tools and/or had elevated mercury were included in this study. Urine and hair were sampled during the follow-up study to assess the children's recent exposure to mercury, methylmercury, and lead. Their cognitive performance and visual-motor integration were also measured using the Test of Non-Verbal Intelligence (TONI) and the Beery-Visual-Motor Integration (Beery VMI), respectively. The association between alterations in urinary porphyrins excretion and exposure to metals was analyzed and their influence on the children's neurodevelopment was explored. Linear regression models revealed a significant negative association between the infants' mercury exposure during lactation and the TONI Quotient (β=-0.298, 95%CI=-4.677, -0.414) and Beery VMI Age Equivalent scores at age 5-8 (β=-0.437, 95%CI=-6.383, -1.844). The mothers' blood methylmercury was inversely and significantly associated with their children's TONI Quotient (β=-0.231, 95%CI=-8.184, -0.331). In contrast, the children's Beery VMI Age Equivalent scores were positively and significantly associated with the hair methylmercury of the mothers (β=0.214, 95%CI=0.088, 3.899) and their infants (β=0.256, 95%CI=0.396, 4.488). These relationships suggest the presence of negative confounding that we did not take into account. Unlike mercury, there was some evidence that lead in breast milk had an inverse relationship with the children's visual-motor coordination skills. Our study did not show a clear association between children's recent exposure to metals and neurodevelopment. However, a significant inverse association was observed between the TONI Quotient and the interaction of hair methylmercury×∑porphyrins (ß=-0.224, 95%CI=-0.86, -0.049), implying that porphyrins are a sensitive measure of low body-mercury burden. Although lead induced higher ∑porphyrins excretion in urine (β=0.347, 95%CI=0.107, 0.525), their interaction did not influence children's neurodevelopmental scores. The interactions between metals and porphyrins might provide insights into their potential contributory role in the pathogenesis associated with neurological disorders or other diseases. Despite the small sample size of the present study, its findings about the association between toxic metal exposure and the high risk of poor neurodevelopmental performance are worrying, particularly at an early age, and additional research is needed using larger sample sizes.

A-165 Letter Versus Oject Naming: Exploring the Relationship Between Rapid Naming and Fluid Reasoning Ability

Abstract Objective Fluid reasoning is associated with rapid naming (RN) ability in multiple studies (e.g., Mano et al., 2019), but less is known about which aspects of RN may be driving this relationship. Hence, the purpose of this study was to determine which is better associated with fluid reasoning ability: letter or object naming. Method Participants comprised 226 children, ages 8–12 years (88.5% Caucasian, 53.1% Male), who completed a larger, NIH-funded study (R03HD048752, R15HD065627), representing a community sample. They encompassed children with ADHD, reading disability (RD), RD/ADHD and controls. Measures administered included the CTOPP Letter and Object Naming subtests and the Test of Nonverbal Intelligence, Third Edition (TONI-3). Results Linear regression revealed RN predicted TONI-3 scores, F(2, 223) = 7.44, p = .001, but only object naming was significant (Beta = .26, p = .002). Separate regressions demonstrated that RN was not related to TONI-3 performance for controls (p = .12), nor for children with ADHD (p = .58). It displayed a trend for children with RD, F(2, 45) = 2.99, p = .06, with only object naming being significant (Beta = .44, p = .02). Conclusions Rapid object naming, but not rapid letter naming, is related to fluid reasoning ability in a mixed sample of children. Further analysis suggests that these findings were driven by children with RD. Future research should investigate whether the semantic or visual aspect of object naming, or both, is driving this relationship.

Acute increases in brain-derived neurotrophic factor following high or moderate-intensity exercise is accompanied with better cognition performance in obese adults

The purpose of this study was to test if different intensities of aerobic exercise could influence abdominal fat, isoforms of BDNF and executive function. Twenty obese men (30.0 ± 5.4 years old; 34.4 ± 3.5 kg/m2) were randomized to moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT, n = 10) and high-intensity intermittent training (HIIT, n = 10) three times a week for 6 weeks, with isoenergetic energetic expenditure for each exercise session (~ 300 kcal) between conditions. Abdominal fat was assessed pre- and post-intervention; executive function (Coding subtest from BETA-III non-verbal intelligence test and Stroop Color and Word Test), concentrations of mBDNF and proBDNF were assessed in response to acute exercise pre- and post-intervention. Abdominal fat did not change in either group. There was a significant increase in mBDNF immediately after acute exercise in both groups before and after intervention. proBDNF did not present changes acutely nor after 6 weeks. Executive function presented a main effect of time at pre- and post-intervention time-points Stroop Word and Stroop Color and Coding subtest presented improved performance from pre- to post-acute exercise session, in both groups. In conclusion, executive function improvements and acute exercise session-induced increases in mBDNF concentration were found from pre- to post-exercise intervention similarly between MICT and HIIT in obese men.

A randomised clinical pilot trial to test the effectiveness of parent training with video modelling to improve functioning and symptoms in children with autism spectrum disorders and intellectual disability.

Poor eye contact and joint attention are early signs of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and important prerequisites for developing other socio-communicative skills. Teaching parents evidence-based techniques to improve these skills can impact the overall functioning of children with ASD. We aimed to analyse the impact of conducting a group parent-training intervention with video modelling to improve the intelligent quotient (IQ), social and communication functioning and to minimise symptoms in children with ASD and intellectual disability (ID). Study design: A multicentre, single-blinded, randomised clinical pilot trial of parent training using video modelling was conducted. Sixty-seven parents of children with ASD, aged between 3 and 6years and with IQs between 50 and 70, were randomised: 34 to the intervention group and 33 to the control group. Intervention program: The intervention group received parent training over 22 sessions, and the control group received the standard community treatment. Pre-evaluation and post-evaluation (week 28), the following were used: Autism Diagnostic Interview, Vineland Adaptive Behaviour Scale I, Snijders-Oomen Nonverbal Intelligence Test, Autism Behaviour Checklist and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale. Intention to treat and complier-average causal effect (CACE) were used to estimate the effects of the intervention. There was a statistically significant improvement in the Vineland standardized communication scores in CACE (Cohen's d=0.260). There was a non-statistically significant decrease in autism symptomatology (Autism Behaviour Checklist total scores) and a significant increase in the non-verbal IQ in the intervention group. After the false discovery rate correction was applied, IQ remained statistically significant under both paradigms. The effect size for this adjusted outcome under the intention-to-treat paradigm was close to 0.4, and when considering adherence (CACE), the effect sizes were more robust (IQ's Cohen's d=0.433). Parent training delivered by video modelling can be a useful technique for improving the care given to children with ASD and ID, particularly in countries that lack specialists.

Giftedness or disability? Living with paradox

ABSTRACT There are difficulties regarding the identification of twice-exceptional students in Turkey. These children can be identified properly by way of multidimensional assessment. The purpose of the present study was to examine through family interviews, child interviews, products of the child and non-verbal intelligence tests the areas of difficulty and ability areas for Alp who has a probability of being identified with learning disabilities and giftedness. A single-subject case study model has been utilised for the study. Semi-structured interview form was applied during the study to acquire the opinions of the family. Study sample analysis and reading fluency activities were carried out in order to analyse the difficulties in reading and writing. Non-verbal intelligence tests were applied for identifying non-verbal cognitive ability. Expert opinions were taken for examining the products of the child. Based on the acquired findings, it was concluded that Alp can be a twice exceptional child.

Season of birth and sugary beverages are predictors of Raven\u2019s Standard Progressive Matrices Scores in adolescents

To investigate factors associated with cognitive functioning in healthy adolescents, a school-based cross-sectional study was conducted on 1370 adolescents aged 11–16 years that were randomly selected from all governorates of Kuwait. Raven’s Standard Progressive Matrices (SPM), a non-verbal test of intelligence, was used to measure cognitive functioning of the study participants. Data on predictors of cognitive functioning were collected from parents and adolescents. Weight and height of the participants were measured in a standardized manner and blood samples were tested in an accredited laboratory under strict measures of quality control. In multivariable linear regression analysis, factors that showed significant association with the SPM score were gender (p = 0.002), season of birth (p = 0.009), place of residence (p < 0.001), father’s (p < 0.001) and mother’s (p = 0.025) educational level, type of housing (p < 0.001), passive smoking at home (p = 0.031), sleeping hours during weekends (p = 0.017), students’ educational level (p < 0.001) and the frequency of consumption of sugary drinks (p < 0.001). The link between cognitive functioning and season of birth seems to be robust in various geographical locations including the Middle East. The association between sugary drinks and cognitive functioning highlights the importance of diet independently of obesity and support efforts to reduce consumption of sugary drinks among children.

Predictors for delayed linguistic skills in very preterm infants

Preterm-born children are at higher risk for impaired linguistic abilities than are their term-born peers. The aim of the current study was to determine early predictors for delayed linguistic skills in very preterm-born preschool children. Between January 2005 and November 2010 all very preterm infants born at < 32 weeks gestation in Tyrol were prospectively enrolled (n = 421); 248 of them had a detailed examination at the age of five years including cognitive assessment (Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence, third edition (WPPSI-III) or Snijders-Oomen Nonverbal Intelligence Tests (SON-R)) as well as a screening test for language skills (Bielefelder screening for early diagnosis of reading problems and weak spelling (BISC)). The association between pre-and postnatal factors and poor performance on the BISC assessment was analyzed by means of logistic regression analysis. Of the 248 children 79 (31.8%) showed delayed literacy precursor skills. Male sex, gestational age, retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) grades 3-4 and low maternal education were predictive for delayed linguistic skills at 5 years of age in the multivariate analysis. This study identified predictors for delayed literacy precursor skills. These data support the finding that in very preterm infants pre-and perinatal as well as sociodemographic factors account for linguistic skills in the preschool period.

Autism Spectrum Disorders: Assessment of cognitive abilities using the non-verbal SON-R 6-40

Abstract Cognition in individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) shows large variability. Nonverbal tests can be more suitable for cognitive assessment in this group. We investigated cognitive abilities in ASD using the SON-R 6-40 Nonverbal Intelligence Test. A total of 37 individuals with ASD (AG) aged 6-24 years participated. Cognitive assessment of the AG was done using the SON-R 6-40 and performance compared with the standardized sample which served as the control group (CG). Results showed lower subtest scores in the AG than in the CG. Approximately 84% of the AG had intellectual disability according to IQ scores. Individuals with preserved speech in the AG had higher IQ scores than patients without preserved speech. There was no relationship between intelligence and ASD symptom severity as reported by families.

Linguistic Disfluency in Retelling of Cause-Effect and Compare-Contrast Expository Discourses for Third to Fourth Graders from Multicultural Families

Purpose The purpose of this study was to investigate the linguistic disfluencies of retelling in cause-effect and compare-contrast expository discourses for third to fourth graders from multicultural families. Methods Participants were 15 children from multicultural families and 15 their grade-matched children from non-multicultural families. For two groups, there were no differences on standardized receptive and expressive vocabulary tests and nonverbal intelligence test. All participants were asked to retell two expository discourses after listening to two discourses with pictures. After transcribing the speech sample, linguistic disfluencies were categorized into filled pause, silent pause, repetition, and revision. Results First, children from multicultural families produced significantly more linguistic disfluencies than those from non-multicultural families even though the total number of eojeols produced in two groups was similar. Second, children showed higher rates of disfluencies on compare-contrast, when compared to the cause-effect expository discourses. Filled pause was significantly more frequent in children from multicultural families than that from non-multicultural families and revision and pause were significantly prevalent in compare-contrast than cause-effect. Conclusion The results demonstrate that children from multicultural families produced linguistic disfluencies more frequently on the retelling of the expository discourses and it may be relevant to the difficulty on linguistic and cognitive processing of expository discourses. Linguistic disfluency would be a useful clinical index to identify the problems on process of language production at the discourse level. Key Words: Children from multicultural families, Linguistic disfluency, Expository discourse, Cause-effect, Compare-contrast 중심 단어: ë‹¤ë¬¸í™”ê°€ì •ì˜ 아동, ì–¸ì–´í•™ì  ë¹„ìœ ì°½ì„±, ì„¤ëª ë‹´í™”, 원인-ê²°ê³¼, 비교-대조

Processing speed in 6 year-old children can predict non-verbal intelligence test scores in children at 8 years of age

Processing speed in 6 year-old children can predict non-verbal intelligence test scores in children at 8 years of age

Assessment tool for visual perception deficits in cerebral visual impairment: reliability and validity.

To evaluate the reliability and validity of the Children's Visual Impairment Test for 3- to 6-year-olds (CVIT 3-6). Reliability was assessed via test-retest correlation and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) in typically developing children, children with cerebral visual impairment (CVI), intellectual impairment, and simulated impaired vision (validation groups n=59, mean developmental age=4y 10mo, 27 females, 32 males). Internal validity was evaluated with a confirmatory factor analysis on the normative sample (n=301, median age=4y 8mo,SD=9.7mo, 148 females, 153 males). External validity was assessed by correlating performance on CVIT 3-6 with L94, the Beery-Buktenica Developmental Test of Visuo-Motor Integration (Beery-VMI), the Freiburg Vision Test, the revised Snijders-Oomen Nonverbal Intelligence Test for children between 2years 6months and 7-years-old (SON-R 2.5-7), and the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS) questionnaire and bycomparing performance between validation groups. We observed very good test-retest reliability (r=0.82, p<0.001, ICC=0.80) and confirmed the hypothesized factor structure (comparative fit index=1; Tucker-Lewis index=1.045). We found high correlations with tests with a strong visual perception component (L94: r=0.74, p<0.001; SON-R 2.5-7: r=0.37, p=0.01) and low correlations with other tests (Beery-VMI: r=0.25, p=0.09; SRS: r=0-0.26, p=0.09). Lowest scores were observed for children with CVIcompared to the other validation groups (F[3,44]=5.1, p=0.003). CVIT 3-6 is grounded in knowledge of visual perception. The tool specifically measures CVI-related visual perception deficits and is not mediated by intellectual abilities or low visual acuity. Evidence for good test-retest reliability of the Children's Visual Impairment Test for 3- to 6-year-olds (CVIT 3-6). Factor structure of normative data reflects CVIT 3-6's foundations in vision science. CVIT 3-6 specifically measures visual perception impairments. CVIT 3-6 performance is not influenced by intelligence or low visual acuity.

The Impact of the Animated Children's Program of Baby TV on the Handled Government-Language Development of the Child

Speech disorders are in almost all speech pathology accompanied by a symptom. They usually occur during speech development. Baby. First TV describes itself as a provider of shows 'designed to inspire a baby's learning'. However, if a child is presented to a continental strangling program that does not serve the mother tongue, it can have a lot of difficulty in shaping the language of her speech and not understanding the words and sentences of her parents and the environment. The subjects in this study carried out the following diagnostic tests: pedagogical-psychological examination, logaoedic examination, and neurological examination. The results research shows that besides the worse results on non-verbal intelligence tests, children who were exposed to the influence of Baby-TV from their 2 to 4-year-olds have achieved worse results on nonverbal tests as well as children whose parents included the Baby-TV program of 9 months to the gosling of the day. They say the worst German letters such as ß, R, Ö, Ä, Ü and do not associate German spoken words with the environment. The aim of this research was to examine the negative influence of BABY TV on the speech of children with age child, sex, nonverbal, verbal abilities, and development scale of understanding speech. The ability to speak and understand speech in relation to Reynell was also explored development scale of speech. Average and below-average values were obtained.

Sex Similarities and Differences in Intelligence in Children Aged Two to Eight: Analysis of SON-R 2-8 Scores.

The aim of this study was to investigate sex similarities and differences in visuospatial and fluid abilities and IQ scores based on those abilities in children aged two to eight. Standardization data from the Snijders-Oomen Nonverbal Intelligence Test for Children aged 2–8 (SON-R 2–8) were used. A representative sample composed of 965 children from the Netherlands and 762 children from Germany was examined. Small but significant mean sex differences favoring girls were observed until age four. At ages six and seven, boys achieved similar cognitive development levels to girls regarding all abilities assessed and outperformed girls on the Mosaics subtest measuring visuospatial cognition. Boys also displayed higher variability rates in performance. The distribution of IQ scores, with the overrepresentation of girls scoring above mean and the overrepresentation of boys scoring below mean in early childhood, altered with age towards parity between the sexes. The results suggest that girls tend to mature earlier with respect to cognitive abilities. During the course of development, however, the differences between girls and boys may become negligible.

Growth and IQ in Children With Congenital Heart Disease

Research Article| May 01 2019 Growth and IQ in Children With Congenital Heart Disease AAP Grand Rounds (2019) 41 (5): 57. https://doi.org/10.1542/gr.41-5-57 Views Icon Views Article contents Figures & tables Video Audio Supplementary Data Peer Review Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Cite Icon Cite Search Site Citation Growth and IQ in Children With Congenital Heart Disease. AAP Grand Rounds May 2019; 41 (5): 57. https://doi.org/10.1542/gr.41-5-57 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Reference Manager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All PublicationsAll JournalsAAP Grand RoundsPediatricsHospital PediatricsPediatrics In ReviewNeoReviewsAAP NewsAll AAP Sites Search Advanced Search Topics: congenital heart disease Source: Heye KN, Rousson V, Knirsch W, et al. Growth and intellectual abilities of six-year-old children with congenital heart disease. J Pediatr. 2019; 204: 24.e10– 30.e10; doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpeds.2018.08.060Google Scholar Investigators from University Children’s Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland, and University Hospital of Lausanne, Switzerland, conducted a prospective cohort study to assess growth and IQ in children with congenital heart disease (CHD) who underwent cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) surgery in infancy. Study participants were patients undergoing CPB surgery in the first year of life at University Children’s Hospital Zurich. Children with a recognizable genetic or phenotypic syndrome and those with a birth weight <2,000 g were excluded. Data on the type of CHD and clinical course during and after CPB surgery were collected. The birth records of study patients were reviewed and data on weight, length, and head circumference (HC) abstracted. Anthropometric measurements were repeated just prior to surgery and at 1, 4, and 6 years of age. IQ testing was performed when study children were 6 years old by using the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence III or, in children with developmental and/or speech and language delay, the Snijders Oomen nonverbal intelligence tests. The socioeconomic status (SES) of study patients was classified based on maternal education level and paternal occupation. The primary outcomes were weight, height, HC, and IQ at 6 years, and secondary outcomes included growth trajectories. Growth parameters of study participants were standardized and compared to Swiss growth chart values by using Wilcoxon signedrank tests. Regression analyses, including multiple clinical characteristics and SES, were used to identify statistical associations with IQ at 6 years of age. Data were analyzed in 143 children. The most common CHD was transposition of the great arteries (occurring in 29% of study patients), 71% had a cyanotic heart defect, and 20% had univentricular physiology. Weight and length were normal at birth, but HC was significantly lower than expected (median 33rd percentile; P=.03). All growth parameters, especially weight, decreased compared to expected values just prior to surgery and improved after surgery, particularly within the first year of life. At 6 years of age, height was normal, but weight (P<.01) and HC (P<.001) remained significantly lower than expected. Median IQ in study patients was 95 (range, 50–135) at 6 years of age; 7 patients (5%) had a measured IQ <70. In the multivariate analysis, lower SES, smaller HC at birth, older age at first CPB surgery, and longer ICU stays postoperatively were independently associated with lower IQ at 6 years of age. The authors conclude that smaller HC at birth and lower SES, as well as potentially modifiable clinical factors, are associated with lower IQ at 6 years of age in children with CHD who undergo CPB surgery in infancy. Dr Spar has disclosed no financial relationship relevant to this commentary. This commentary does not contain a discussion of an unapproved/investigative use of a commercial product/device. Children with CHD often require... You do not currently have access to this content.

REVISION OF HUNGARIAN VERSIONS OF THE ALTERNATIVE USES AND CIRCLES CREATIVITY TESTS IN CASES OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS STUDENTS

Although time plays a role as a latent or explicit factor in all creative processes, a direct examination of the role of time occurs less frequently in creativity research (Mező K., 2017; Mainemelis, 2002; Runco, 1999). This study focuses on the revision of Hungarian versions of creativity tests because the last standardization of these tests had been for more than 30 years. The applied tests were the Alternative Uses Test (as verbal creativity test), the Circles Test (as a figural test), and the Raven nonverbal intelligence test (as a complementary means of study). The sample of this study was 1363 elementary and secondary school students, whose 35331 responses were recorded and analyzed. According to the results, the differences in scores of the old and new (revised) evaluation tables of all tests and age groups are significant (p ≤ 0,05). From the viewpoint of the revised scores, there is a significant difference with respect to fluency, originality, and flexibility in both tests and all age groups. However, the differences in scores of other indicators (average originality, relative flexibility, and revised average originality) are not significant.

Effects of Discontinue Rules on Psychometric Properties of Test Scores.

This paper provides results on a form of adaptive testing that is used frequently in intelligence testing. In these tests, items are presented in order of increasing difficulty. The presentation of items is adaptive in the sense that a session is discontinued once a test taker produces a certain number of incorrect responses in sequence, with subsequent (not observed) responses commonly scored as wrong. The Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scales (SB5; Riverside Publishing Company, 2003) and the Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children (KABC-II; Kaufman and Kaufman, 2004), the Kaufman Adolescent and Adult Intelligence Test (Kaufman and Kaufman 2014) and the Universal Nonverbal Intelligence Test (2nd ed.) (Bracken and McCallum 2015) are some of the many examples using this rule. He and Wolfe (Educ Psychol Meas 72(5):808-826, 2012. https://doi.org/10.1177/0013164412441937 ) compared different ability estimation methods in a simulation study for this discontinue rule adaptation of test length. However, there has been no study, to our knowledge, of the underlying distributional properties based on analytic arguments drawing on probability theory, of what these authors call stochastic censoring of responses. The study results obtained by He and Wolfe (Educ Psychol Meas 72(5):808-826, 2012. https://doi.org/10.1177/0013164412441937 ) agree with results presented by DeAyala et al. (J Educ Meas 38:213-234, 2001) as well as Rose et al. (Modeling non-ignorable missing data with item response theory (IRT; ETS RR-10-11), Educational Testing Service, Princeton, 2010) and Rose et al. (Psychometrika 82:795-819, 2017. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11336-016-9544-7 ) in that ability estimates are biased most when scoring the not observed responses as wrong. This scoring is used operationally, so more research is needed in order to improve practice in this field. The paper extends existing research on adaptivity by discontinue rules in intelligence tests in multiple ways: First, an analytical study of the distributional properties of discontinue rule scored items is presented. Second, a simulation is presented that includes additional scoring rules and uses ability estimators that may be suitable to reduce bias for discontinue rule scored intelligence tests.

Organophosphate Pesticide Metabolite Concentrations in Urine during Pregnancy and Offspring Nonverbal IQ at Age 6 Years.

Background:Susceptibility to organophosphate (OP) pesticide neurotoxicity may be greatest during the prenatal period; however, previous studies have produced mixed findings concerning in utero OP pesticide exposure and child cognition.Objectives:Our objective was to determine whether maternal urinary concentrations of OP pesticide metabolites are inversely associated with child nonverbal IQ at 6 y of age and to examine potential effect measure modification by the PON1 gene.Methods:Data came from 708 mother–child pairs participating in the Generation R Study. Maternal urine concentrations of six dialkylphosphates (DAPs), collected at , 18–25, and of gestation, were determined. Child nonverbal IQ was measured at 6 y of age using the Mosaics and Categories subtests from the Snijders-Oomen Nonverbal Intelligence Test–Revised. PON1 was determined in cord blood for 474 infants. Multiple linear regression models were fit to estimate the DAP–IQ associations and PON1 interactions.Results:Overall, associations between child nonverbal IQ and maternal DAP concentrations were small and imprecise, and these associations were inconsistent across urine sampling periods. However, for a 10-fold difference in total DAP concentration for the of gestation samples, adjusted child nonverbal IQ was 3.9 points lower (95% CI: , ). Heterogeneity in the DAP–IQ association by PON1 gene allele status was not observed ().Conclusions:Consistent evidence of an association between higher maternal urinary DAP concentrations and lower child IQ scores at 6 y of age was not observed. There was some evidence for an inverse relation of child nonverbal IQ and late pregnancy urinary DAPs, but the estimated association was imprecise. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP3024

Associations Between Manual Dexterity and Language Ability in School-Age Children.

We aimed to determine whether individual differences in manual dexterity are associated with specific language skills (nonword repetition, receptive vocabulary, and receptive grammar) after controlling for nonverbal abilities (visual-spatial working memory and intelligence). We assessed manual dexterity using the pegboard task and examined relationships with verbal and nonverbal abilities in a diverse community sample of children (N = 63, mean age = 8;2 [year;months], range: 6;0-10;8) varying in language ability (Comprehensive Evaluation of Language Fundamentals-Fourth Edition core language score M = 105, range: 62-126; Semel, Wiig, & Secord, 2003). Correlational analyses indicated significant relationships between manual dexterity and performance on tests of nonword repetition, receptive vocabulary, receptive grammar, and nonverbal intelligence, after controlling for multiple comparisons. In regression analyses, manual dexterity remained a significant predictor of nonword repetition after controlling for nonverbal abilities and age. In contrast, manual dexterity was no longer significant in predicting receptive vocabulary or grammar when nonverbal intelligence was included as a factor in the model. These findings build on prior work implicating poor fine motor control in child language disorders by identifying a robust relationship between manual dexterity and nonword repetition. Relationships between manual dexterity and receptive language abilities appear to be indirect and mediated by nonword repetition. For clinicians, the results underscore the importance of screening children with poor fine motor control for concomitant language impairments.

Estudo normativo do R-1: Teste Não Verbal de Inteligência para uma região da Bahia-Brasil

O R-1: Teste Não Verbal de Inteligência é um instrumento que foi construído com base no Teste de Matrizes Progressivas de Raven de acordo aos pressupostos teóricos da análise fatorial de Spearman, teoria bifatorial. O presente artigo objetivou apresentar normas para o R-1 para uma amostra de motoristas e candidatos a Carteira Nacional de Habilitação de uma região do sudoeste da Bahia - Brasil. A amostra foi composta de 1507 adultos, de ambos os sexos e três níveis de escolaridade, que realizaram avaliação psicológica em uma clínica credenciada ao DETRAN-BA. Para determinar a influência do sexo e da escolaridade foram realizados testes estatísticos, que indicaram diferenças significativas nas pontuações em função dessas variáveis. Os resultados apontaram a necessidade de estabelecer normas por sexo e por nível de escolaridade para a população estudada. Tais estudos contribuem para o avanço nas pesquisas em avaliação psicológica no contexto do trânsito.