Research / Publications
Validation of a touchscreen assessment tool to screen for cognitive delay at 24 months
Date: 2023
Objective: To validate a touchscreen assessment as a screening tool for mild cognitive delay in typically developing children aged 24 months.
Design: Secondary analysis of data was completed from an observational birth cohort study (The Cork Nutrition & Microbiome Maternal–Infant Cohort Study [COMBINE]), with children born between 2015 and 2017. Outcome data were collected at 24 months of age, at the INFANT Research Centre, Ireland. Outcomes were the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, Third Edition cognitive com- posite score and a language-free, touchscreen-based cognitive measure (Babyscreen).
Results: A total of 101 children (47 females, 54 males) aged 24 months (mean = 24.25, SD = 0.22) were included. Cognitive composite scores correlated with the total num- ber of Babyscreen tasks completed, with moderate concurrent validity (r = 0.358, p<0.001). Children with cognitive composite scores lower than 90 (1 SD below the mean, defined as mild cognitive delay) had lower mean Babyscreen scores than those with cognitive scores equal to or greater than 90 (8.50 [SD = 4.89] vs 12.61 [SD = 3.68], p = 0.001). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for the prediction of a cognitive composite score less than 90 was 0.75 (95% confidence interval = 0.59–0.91; p = 0.006). Babyscreen scores less than 7 were equivalent to less than the 10th centile and identified children with mild cognitive delay with 50% sensitivity and 93% specificity.
Executive functions in infancy: Measurement using a novel tablet task and exploration of longitudinal attentional and cognitive predictors
Date: 2022
Objective: The present study used data from a prospective longitudinal study to examine the development and predictors of EF skills among infants during the first 24-months of life.
Design:
Research Highlights:
•Assessment of Executive Functioning (EF) skills at 18-and 24-months of age using a novel tablet-based measure.
•The tablet measure wasable to detect improvement in executive functionscores with age, stability of individual differences,and had good internal consistency.
•Prospectivelongitudinal design allowed examinationof complex relationships between emerging attentional abilities and executive functions. •Slower attentional disengagement at 8-months, but faster disengagement at 18-months predicted higher EF skills at 24-months.
•No concurrent or longitudinal relationships found between executive functions at 18-or-24-months and general cognitive abilities measured by the Mullen Scales of Early Learning.
Concurrent validity of a touchscreen application to detect early cognitive delay
Date: 2020
Objective: To explore the ability of an interactive screening tool to identify cognitive delay in children aged 18 to 24 months.
Design: Children were assessed using the Bayley Scale of Infant and Toddler Development-third edition (BSID-III) and a touchscreen measure of problem-solving (Babyscreen V.1.5). We examined the internal consistency and concurrent validity between the two measures. A BSID-III cognitive composite score (BSID-IIIcc) ≤1 SD below population mean was used to indicate a low average cognitive ability.
Feasibility of using touch screen technology for early cognitive assessment in children
Date: 2018
Objective: To explore the feasibility of using a touch screen assessment tool to measure cognitive capacity in toddlers.
Design: 112 typically developing children with a median age of 31 months (IQR: 26-34) interacted with a touch screen cognitive assessment tool. We examined the sensitivity of the tool to age-related changes in cognition by comparing the number of items completed, speed of task completion and accuracy in two age groups; 24-29 months versus 30-36 months.
Touch-screen technology usage in toddlers
Date: 2016
Objective: To establish the prevalence and patterns of use of touch-screen technologies in the toddler population.
Design: Parental questionnaires were completed for children aged 12 months to 3 years examining access to touch-screen devices and ability to perform common forms of interaction with touch-screen technologies.
The CogniTOT application is validated in children from multi-lingual homes
Designed to assess early learning skills in young children aged 18-30 months
Tested in multiple cohorts to confirm ability to screen for developmental delay: proven concurrent validity and excellent internal consistency
Who uses CogniTOT?
Here are examples of the services we provide:
Large multi-centre regulated trials
For large multi-centre regulated trials our team can provide touchscreen based assessment applications, training of research personnel, site initiation, and cognitive profiling of children aged 18-30 months. Please contact support@liltoda.ie to discuss with the team.
Individual researchers in the field of early development and neonatal outcome
For individual researchers in the field of early development and neonatal outcome: we can provide support for your study to train your research staff to administer the CogniTOT testing software using your own tablet devices. Suitable for children aged 18-30 months. Raw data and summary report will be provided to you directly for your statistical analysis. To set up a meeting to discuss with the research team please email support@liltoda.ie
Families: remote home assessment
Our aim is to develop home based assessment for all children. We are working with families, through our research on better methods of assessment for the prediction of long term outcome. If you are interested in finding out more, visit our home assessment page or email support@liltoda.ie