The clinical utility of Piagetian-based scales of infant development

Abstract

The clinical utility of assessment scales based on Jean Piaget's theory of infant development is described. A clinical process is presented which permits one to determine (a) whether a child is showing delayed or non‐delayed sensorimotor performance, (b) whether a child is showing normal or atypical patterns of sensorimotor development, (c) the extent to which deviations in a child's patterns of development are present, (d) the exact nature of such deviations, if any, and (e) what types of interventions are most appropriate for enhancing a child's acquisition of sensorimotor competencies. Four examples of the application of the clinical process are presented.

Concurrent Validity Data for the Uzgiris and Hunt Scales and the Bayley Mental Scale: Additional Evidence on the Dunst Age Norms

“…Even though such ordinal scales do have some similarities to traditional infant intelligence tests (Elkind, 1969), there are differences that have major implications for assessment practices with infants who are handicapped 1978, 1980, 1982Dunst & Gallagher, 1983;Elkind, 1981;Hunt, 1976).…”