The Molteno Adapted Scale: A child development screening tool for healthcare settings

The Molteno Adapted Scale (MAS) is a developmental screening tool for children up to five years of age, used by medical practitioners in the Western Cape, South Africa. It generates subquotients language, personal and social, fine gross motor domains. general quotient average all four subquotients, with score < 85 indicating risk global delay. authors aimed determine concurrent validity MAS, using Bayley Scales Infant Toddler Development-3rd edition (BSID) as comprehensive assessment reference measure. A total 103 (55 girls) participants were enrolled from longitudinal cohort study, which 90 (49 assessed on both MAS BSID at 11–14 months, 53 (27 30–42 months age 44 (21 timepoints. low number developmentally delayed precluded estimation diagnostic accuracy MAS. Therefore, determined Pearson correlation coefficients ( r ) across similar domains n = 90) 53) Bland–Altman analysis detect bias between domain scores. Correlation was moderate high domains, except 1-year-olds 0.23), but found discordance especially language scores upper lower performance ranges. Future studies should aim standardise operational procedures validate it wider age-range, include varying degrees