Abstract 779

The CAT/CLAMS is an instrument for evaluating visual-motor (CAT) and language (CLAMS) development of children up to 3 yr of age. Scores are based on historical neurodeveloment data as well as the findings of a standard neurodevelopmental examination. Since it can be administered in 10-15 min by a pediatrician with no formal training in psychometrics, it may have some advantages over the Bayley Scales of Infant Development (BSID), the "gold standard" of neurodevelopmental instruments. Although CLAMS scores of both normal and developmentally delayed children correlate well with the Mental Developmental Index (MDI) of the BSID at the same age, data concerning the extent to which CLAMS scores at an early age correlate with either CLAMS or MDIs at older ages are scarce. Thus, we have determined correlations between CLAMS scores and MDI obtained concurrently in groups of normal healthy children at both 12 (n=67) and 30 mo (n=38) of age as well as between CLAMS scores obtained at 12 mo of age and both CLAMS scores and MDIs of the same infants at 30 mo of age. Healthy term and preterm children participating in a study of early alpha-linolenic acid intake comprised the study population for determining correlations between CLAMS and MDI scores at 12 mo of age. In these infants, both tests were administered independently in random order on a single day at the same site. CLAMS was administered by a developmental pediatrician and the BSID by a developmental psychologist. The mean CLAMS score was 99.1 ± 14.0 and the mean MDI was 95.0 ± 12.9; r=0.56, within the range observed previously.

The subject population for determining correlations between CLAMS scores and MDIs at 30 mo of age and between CLAMS scores at 12 mo of age and both CLAMS scores and MDIs at 30 mo of age was a group of breast-fed infants participating in an ongoing study of maternal docosahexaenoic acid supplementation. Again, the CLAMS was administered by a developmental pediatrician and the BSID by a developmental psychologist. The CLAMS and BSID assessments at 30 mo of age were separated by as much as 4 weeks. The mean CLAMS scores at 12 and 30 mo of age, respectively, were 104.5 ± 14.3 and 108.1 ± 14.9. The mean MDI at 30 mo was 107.0 ± 13.1. Correlation coefficients were: CLAMS vs. MDI at 30 mo, 0.731; CLAMS at 12 vs. 30 mo, 0.501; CLAMS at 12 mo vs. MDI at 30 mo, 0.532.

These data provide further evidence that CLAMS scores of healthy infants correlate quite well with MDIs at both 12 and 30 mo of age. They also show that CLAMS scores at 12 mo of age correlate favorably with both CLAMS scores and MDIs at 30 mo of age. These findings and the ease of administration of CAT/CLAMS make the test an excellent instrument for assessment of early development by pediatricians.