A General Test of Motor Impairment for Children

UMMARY In the development of a general test of motor impairment in children aged 5–16 years, criteria were established for the suitability of test-tasks. The objective of the proposed test is to ascertain and assess motor impairment of functional, or presumed neurological origin. Other causes of variation, notably stature, muscular strength, spatial ability, mental level, temperamental factors, previous learning and cultural differences, have been minimised. Objective criteria of ‘pass’ or ‘fai’ have been adopted as far as possible. The Oseretzky Test of Motor Ability was used as a starling point, and the mode of administration devised by Gollnitz, making the test a measure of impairment rather than of the whole range of ability, has been maintained. Since, however, most of the items of the Oseretzky Test failed to meet the 15 criteria proposed, a virtually new test has been developed. Since the differential incidence of impairment in boys and girls affords a fairly reliable indication, other things being equal, of a congenital and possible genetic factor, all feasible sex bias has been eliminated, and both sexes perform the same tasks. Arrangements are in hand for the validation of the test in Britain, Canada and the United States. RESUME Un test general tic Ľincapacite motrice ties en/ants An cours du developpement d'un test general de Ľincapacite motrice chez les enfants âges de 5 a 16 ans on a etabli les criteres qui caracterisent un travail approprie au test. Ľobjectif du test propose est de procurer les moyens de determiner et evaluer Ľincapacite motrice d'origine fonctionnelle ou presumee neurologique. On a minimise les anlres causes de variation, a savoir la stature, la force musculaire, les facultes spatiales, le niveau mental, les facteurs de temperament, Ľetude prealable et les differences culturelles. Des criteres objectifs ‘passe’ ou ‘echoue’ on ete adaptes autant que possible. Le test d'Oseretzky pour la capacite motrice a ete utilise comme point de depart, et on a maintenu le mode d'administration etabli par Gollnitz, faisant du test une mesure de Ľincapacite au lieu d'une mesure de la serie complete des capacites. Pourtant, comme la grande majorite des articles du test d'Oseretzky n'ont pas reussi a satisfaire les criteres proposes, un test virtuellement neuf a ete mis au point. Comme Ľincidence differentielle d'incapacite des garcons et des filles est une indication assez digne de confiance, toutes autres choses etant egales, d'un facteur congenital, et peut-etre genetique, toute tendance sexuelle a eteeliminee et les deux sexes executent les memes traveaux. On est entrain d'arranger la validation de ce test en Grande-Bretagne, au Canada et aux Etats-Unis.