CAT/CLAMS: Its use in detecting early childhood cognitive impairment

The Cognitive Adaptive Test/Clinical Linguistic and Auditory Milestone Scal e (CAT/CLAMS), a neurodevelopmental tool for the cognitive assessment of in fants and toddlers, correlates well with the Bayley Scales of Infant Develo pment. In 1993 the Bayley Scales were revised and the second edition publis hed (BSID-II). This study was designed to determine how well the CAT/CLAMS correlates with the BSID-II and its utility in identifying mild and severe cognitive impairment. Sixty-eight infants and toddlers (age range = 14-48 m onths), referred for suspected developmental delays, were administered the CAT/CLAMS and BSID-II and the results compared. The correlation between the two instruments was strong (r = 0.89. P < 0.0001). The CAT/CLAMS was sensi tive (81%) and specific (85%) for detecting overall cognitive impairment (B SID-II less than 70) and was even more sensitive (100%) and specific (96%) in detecting severe cognitive impairment (BSID-II less than 50). The physic ian using the CAT/CLAMS formulated a clinical impression of cognitive impai rment that was sensitive (95%) and specific (84%) compared with formal psyc hologic testing. The CAT/CLAMS correlates well with the BSID-II. It is usef ul for detecting and quantifying mild and severe cognitive impairment. It p ermits the physician to formulate an accurate clinical impression of cognit ive impairment consistent with possible mental retardation. (C) 2000 by Els evier Science Inc. All rights reserved.