The pediatric early elementary examination: studies of a neurodevelopmental examination for 7- to 9-year-old children.

The Pediatric Early Elementary Examination (PEEX) is a neurodevelopmental assessment designed to evaluate children with learning problems between the ages of 7 and 9. The current study of this procedure focused on a sample of youngsters from two middle-class communities and a group of children referred for learning problems to the School Function Program, a specialty clinic at The Children's Hospital in Boston. During prior pilot testing, diagnostic criteria had been established for specific areas of development assessed on the Pediatric Early Elementary Examination. Findings were expressed as "areas of concern" or developmental weaknesses suggesting the need for further monitoring or referral. It was found that nearly half of the children in the community had at least one such finding. These areas of concern were spread fairly evenly over the seven developmental areas of concern correlated with results of the revised Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC-R) and the California Achievement Test in the community. Youngsters referred to the School Function Program with learning problems also were more likely to have multiple areas of developmental concern. Results suggest that the Pediatric Early Elementary Examination shows promise as a reliable and valid system of observation for use by health care professionals.