| Full text | |
| Author(s): |
Larissa de Souza Salvador
[1]
;
Ricardo Moura
[2]
;
Fernanda Oliveira Ferreira
[3]
;
Peterson Marco Oliveira Andrade
[4]
;
Maria Raquel Santos Carvalho
[5]
;
Vitor Geraldi Haase
Total Authors: 6
|
| Affiliation: | [1] Federal University of Minas Gerais. Graduate Program in Children’s and Adolescents Health - Brasil
[2] University of Brasília. Institute of Psychology. Department of Basic Psychological Processes - Brasil
[3] Federal University of Juiz de Fora. Department of Basic Sciences - Brasil
[4] Federal University of Juiz de Fora. Department of Physiotherapy - Brasil
[5] Federal University of Minas Gerais. Institute of Biological Sciences. Department of General Biology - Brasil
Total Affiliations: 6
|
| Document type: | Journal article |
| Source: | Dement. Neuropsychol.; v. 13, n. 4, p. 427-435, 2019-12-09. |
| Abstract | |
ABSTRACT The Mini-Mental Examination for Children (MMC) is a widely used tool for assessing global cognitive deficits, however,is still unknown whether MMC is sensitive for investigating cognitive profiles associated with learning difficulties (LD). Objective: Here we investigate the feasibility of using the MMC for screening school-aged children with learning difficulties in spelling and math. Methods: The MMC and other neurophysiological tests were administered to a sample of 168 children, aged 7 to 12 years. The sample was subdivided into a Control group and LD group (Math Difficulties, Spelling Difficulties, Math and Spelling Difficulties). Diagnostic accuracy was assessed with ROC analysis. Convergent and divergent validity was assessed using correlation analysis. Results: Performance on the MMC was associated with nonverbal intelligence, age and school achievement. The LD group had significantly lower performance on the MMC than the Control group. Performance on the MMC discriminated LD children with a global accuracy of around 0.80. Associations between the MMC and the other neuropsychological variables were higher for finger gnosis (r=0.40) and generally higher for early elementary school grades. The MMC proved satisfactory for identifying LD children with good accuracy. Nonverbal intelligence, and perceptual/motor abilities play an important role in MMC performance. Conclusion: The MMC could be a useful instrument for screening children with LD. (AU) | |
| FAPESP's process: | 14/50909-8 - INCT 2014: Behavior, Cognition and Teaching (INCT-ECCE): relational learning and symbolic functioning |
| Grantee: | Deisy das Graças de Souza |
| Support Opportunities: | Research Projects - Thematic Grants |