Development, Reliability, and Validity of the Preschool Learning Skills Scale: A Tool for Early Identification of Preschoolers at Risk of Learning Disorder in Mainland China

Early identification and enhanced assessment of learning disabilities: A review

Learning disabilities (LD) affect a significant portion of the global population, presenting tremendous emotional, social, and academic challenges. The multifaceted nature of LD necessitates early and objective identification focusing on educational and cognitive factors. This survey systematically reviews pen-paper and technology-based approaches for identifying LD, employing the PRISMA protocol to ensure a comprehensive and rigorous meta-analysis. A total of 3,783 papers were initially identified during the search process, of which 160 articles met the inclusion criteria. The study explores the various aspects of the identification and intervention of LD, intending to reduce long-term impacts. The essential skills required to recognize different types of LD were identified and classified, underscoring the importance of a set of fundamental skills for accurate differentiation. In addition, this research underscores the importance of objective assessments by integrating emerging technologies such as virtual reality, augmented reality and artificial intelligence, which improves the precision and efficiency of LD identification. The paper also discusses the critical role of early LD identification and addresses associated challenges. It advocates for a comprehensive approach through interdisciplinary collaboration and systemic reforms, ultimately promoting greater inclusivity and equity in education and society.

An abbreviated Chinese dyslexia screening behavior checklist for primary school students using a machine learning approach

To increase early identification and intervention of dyslexia, a prescreening instrument is critical to identifying children at risk. The present work sought to shorten and validate the 30-item Mandarin Dyslexia Screening Behavior Checklist for Primary School Students (the full checklist; Fan et al., , 19, 521-527, 2021). Our participants were 15,522 Mandarin-Chinese-speaking students and their parents, sampled from classrooms in grades 2-6 across regions in mainland China. A machine learning approach (lasso regression) was applied to shorten the full checklist (Fan et al., , 19, 521-527, 2021), constructing grade-specific brief checklists first, followed by a compilation of the common brief checklist based on the similarity across grade-specific checklists. All checklists (the full, grade-specific brief, and common brief versions) were validated and compared with data in our sample and an external sample (N = 114; Fan et al., , 19, 521-527, 2021). The results indicated that the six-item common brief checklist showed consistently high reliability (αs > .82) and reasonable classification performance (about 60% prediction accuracy and 70% sensitivity), comparable to that of the full checklist and all grade-specific brief checklists across our current sample and the external sample from Fan et al., , 19, 521-527, (2021). Our analysis showed that 2.42 (out of 5) was the cutoff score that helped classify children's reading status (children who scored higher than 2.42 might be considered at risk for dyslexia). Our final product is a valid, accessible, common brief checklist for prescreening primary school children at risk for Chinese dyslexia, which can be used across grades and regions in mainland China.

Evaluation instruments for executive functions in children and adolescents: an update of a systematic review

INTRODUCTION

The aim of this study is to update a systematic review of instruments for evaluating the executive functions (EFs) in a pediatric population to assess their measurement properties.

AREA COVERED

Studies describing evaluation tools of EFs were systematically searched on four electronic databases: PubMed, EBSCO, Scopus, and Web of Science. To be included studies had to be on a population aged 0 to 18 were included. The individuals were either healthy or presented a neurodevelopment disorder. Risk of Bias was evaluated through the Consensus-based Standards to select the health Measurement Instruments (COSMIN).

EXPERT OPINION

The search was conducted on April 2023. Eighty-four papers met the inclusion criteria and were included in the study; the studies refer to 72 different evaluation tools of EFs. Most of the studies analyzed through a methodological quality analysis received an 'adequate' score. The instrument most mentioned was the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function-2 (BRIEF2) in seven articles.