Article

This systematic review investigated the availability of assessment tools to
evaluate bimanual skills in young children (< or = 3y) with hemiplegic cerebral
palsy. Evidence for validity, reliability, and clinical utility of the identified
instruments was sought. METHOD: Ten electronic databases and grey literature were
searched (earliest 1806) to February 2009 to identify articles that met criteria
related to the child's age and diagnosis, and included a discrete bimanual
assessment. Further searches for evidence of psychometric properties of each
identified assessment were undertaken. For quality criteria, we evaluated the
internal validity of each study and appraised the validity and reliability of
identified assessments. RESULTS: From 1435 papers retrieved, 15 were eligible for
inclusion, and 11 assessments of bimanual performance were identified. Ten
assessments had inadequate evidence for reliability and validity. Only the
Assisting Hand Assessment had evidence for reliability and validity for its
intended purposes. INTERPRETATION: Reliability and validity are fundamental
considerations when developing or selecting assessments. Additional
considerations for assessing young children include the following: (1)
standardized administration and scoring; (2) items that capture the complexity of
bimanual behaviour; and (3) protocols and items targeted within a small age range
to meet specific developmental needs. A validated assessment of younger infants
is needed to support early intervention during this period of rapid brain development.

Langue : ANGLAIS