Assessment of Motor and Process Skills in Normal Young Children and Children with Dyspraxia

Abstract

This study was designed to examine the validity and reliability of the Assessment of Motor and Process Skills (AMPS) as a measure of praxis in young children. The subjects were 22 children, 12 to 54 months old. Fifteen were typically developing children, while seven were suspected of having developmental dyspraxia. Each of the subjects was observed in various play tasks, and performance was rated for qualitative aspects of motor and process skills using the AMPS. The children with suspected developmental dyspraxia had lower ability on measures of motor and process skills than their same-age peers. In addition, validity of the assessment as a measure of praxis was suggested by fit of test items, tasks, and subjects to the measurement model. A strong positive correlation was found between age and ability for the normal children; the AMPS identified an increasing degree of skill levels as age increased. Inter-rater reliability also was high.