Development and validation of a parent-report measure for detection of cognitive delay in infancy

Abstract

Aim: To develop a brief, parent-completed instrument (ERIC - Early Report by Infant Caregivers) for detection of cognitive delay in 10- to 24-month-olds born preterm, or of low birthweight, or with perinatal complications, and to establish ERIC's diagnostic properties. Method: Scores for ERIC were collected from the parents of 317 children meeting ≥inclusion criterion (birthweight <1500g, gestational age <34 completed weeks, 5min Apgar score <7, or presence of hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy) and no exclusion criteria. Children were assessed using a criterion score of below 80 on the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development-III cognitive scale. Items were retained according to their individual associations with delay. Sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values were estimated and a truncated ERIC was developed for use in children <14 months old. Results: ERIC correctly detected developmental delay in 17 out of 18 children in the sample, with 94.4% sensitivity, 76.9% specificity, 19.8% positive predictive value, 99.6% negative predictive value, 4.09 likelihood ratio positive, and 0.07 likelihood ratio negative. Interpretation: ERIC has potential value as a quickly administered diagnostic instrument for the absence of early cognitive delay in 10- to 24-month-old preterm infants and as a screen for cognitive delay. What this paper adds: This paper gives a preliminary report of an instrument for assessing preterm and low-birthweight infants. The Early Report by Infant Caregivers (ERIC) uses parental report to detect cognitive delay. ERIC is quick and cheap to administer and has the potential to be used to reassure parents (no cognitive delay) or for screening (positive cases). ERIC is available for use or for further research from www.psychology.reading.ac.uk/ERIC from 1 Oct 2014.