Validity of caregiver information on the developmental status of severely brain-damaged young children.

Two studies were conducted to examine the validity of caregiver information on the developmental status of severely brain-damaged young children. First, developmental information on 106 severely brain-damaged young children, obtained from a caregiver-completed behavior inventory--the Kent Infant Development Scale, was compared to that obtained from the Bayley Scales of Infant Development (the Bayley Scales). Developmental age estimates from both tests were highly correlated and similar. Results suggest that it is possible to substitute the Kent Infant Development Scale for the Bayley Scales when measuring the developmental status of severely brain-damaged young children. In a second study examining the differential validity of caregivers' reports, we found that mothers' Kent Infant Development Scales yielded higher developmental age estimates than did teachers' Kent Infant Development Scales.