Location
Nova Southeastern University - Tampa Bay
Event Type
Presentation
Start Date
12-8-2024 9:00 AM
End Date
12-8-2024 12:00 PM
Description
Abstract
Purpose: Our research explores the psychometric properties of the Infant Motor and Engagement Scale, which was developed to identify early indicators of autism spectrum disorder. We planned and implemented two ongoing longitudinal studies, one at the Nova Southeastern University’s Davie Pediatrics Clinic, and one in the community. Specifically, the prospective study at the university’s clinic aims to determine if behaviors in infants can differentiate those later diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder from those who are typically developing using the Infant Motor and Engagement Scale. This study examines the discriminative validity of the scale and related psychometric properties of this scale, which may lead to simplification and refinement of the scale, resulting in a more clinical feasible format, to identify infants later diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. The community study aims to examine the psychometric properties of the Infant Motor and Engagement Scale and explore associations between early infant behaviors, as measured by the Infant Motor and Engagement Scale, and two autism screening tools used in toddlerhood to determine autism risk (the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers-Revised with Follow-up and the Rapid Interactive Screening Test for Autism in Toddlers).
Methods: For these prospective research studies, we administered the Infant Motor and Engagement Scale to five infants and their caregivers in the studies via a recorded Zoom session at 6-9 months of age in their home environment. The studies were approved by the Nova Southeastern University Institutional review board (IRB), and informed parental consent was completed by all participants.
Results: Due to small sample sizes and the nature of these longitudinal studies, which follow the infants to preschool age, at this time of the study, we could only calculate percent agreement within the 36 items for each infant (n=5). The average percentage of agreement within the 36 items for each infant was 92 percent, suggesting a high level of interrater agreement.
Conclusions: The Infant Motor and Engagement Scale shows promise in being a reliable instrument although further research is warranted. We made contributions to design and implement these ongoing longitudinal studies, exploring the psychometric properties of this infant screening tool.
Keywords: Autism Spectrum Disorder, Early Intervention, Infant Screening Tool, Infancy, Infant Motor and Engagement Scale
Recommended Citation
Flanagan, J., Fernandez, E., Reinoso, G., Pullen, R., DeAnnuntis, S. R., Lares, L., Pinckney, M., Lyles, A., & Teixeira, C. (2024), Examining the Infant Motor and Engagement Scale in Infants, Presentation, Eleventh Annual Research Colloquium, Nova Southeastern University - Tampa Bay, https://nsuworks.nova.edu/ot_colloquium/eleventh/events/1
Examining the Infant Motor and Engagement Scale in Infants
Nova Southeastern University - Tampa Bay
Abstract
Purpose: Our research explores the psychometric properties of the Infant Motor and Engagement Scale, which was developed to identify early indicators of autism spectrum disorder. We planned and implemented two ongoing longitudinal studies, one at the Nova Southeastern University’s Davie Pediatrics Clinic, and one in the community. Specifically, the prospective study at the university’s clinic aims to determine if behaviors in infants can differentiate those later diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder from those who are typically developing using the Infant Motor and Engagement Scale. This study examines the discriminative validity of the scale and related psychometric properties of this scale, which may lead to simplification and refinement of the scale, resulting in a more clinical feasible format, to identify infants later diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. The community study aims to examine the psychometric properties of the Infant Motor and Engagement Scale and explore associations between early infant behaviors, as measured by the Infant Motor and Engagement Scale, and two autism screening tools used in toddlerhood to determine autism risk (the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers-Revised with Follow-up and the Rapid Interactive Screening Test for Autism in Toddlers).
Methods: For these prospective research studies, we administered the Infant Motor and Engagement Scale to five infants and their caregivers in the studies via a recorded Zoom session at 6-9 months of age in their home environment. The studies were approved by the Nova Southeastern University Institutional review board (IRB), and informed parental consent was completed by all participants.
Results: Due to small sample sizes and the nature of these longitudinal studies, which follow the infants to preschool age, at this time of the study, we could only calculate percent agreement within the 36 items for each infant (n=5). The average percentage of agreement within the 36 items for each infant was 92 percent, suggesting a high level of interrater agreement.
Conclusions: The Infant Motor and Engagement Scale shows promise in being a reliable instrument although further research is warranted. We made contributions to design and implement these ongoing longitudinal studies, exploring the psychometric properties of this infant screening tool.
Keywords: Autism Spectrum Disorder, Early Intervention, Infant Screening Tool, Infancy, Infant Motor and Engagement Scale
Comments
Support for the NSU Davie Pediatrics Clinic Study has been provided by Nova Southeastern University’s HPD Educational Research Grant.
We thank the families who participated in this research and former students who helped with the implementation of this study, including Dr. Amy MacDonald, Dr. Cesley Taft, and Prasanna Karur, M.S.
Thank you, Dr. Fernandez, for allowing us to conduct our study at the Davie clinic and for recognizing the importance of integrating occupational therapy expertise in infant development at your clinic. We look forward to a strong and lasting partnership in the future.