Let's cut it short: Italian standardization of the MMSPE (Mini-Mental State Pediatric Examination), a brief cognitive screening tool for school-age children

Neurol Sci. 2017 Jan;38(1):157-162. doi: 10.1007/s10072-016-2743-2. Epub 2016 Oct 21.

Abstract

A pediatric cognitive screening tool has been shaped in three versions according to school class to assess spatial and temporal orientation, language, reading, writing, drawing, number knowledge, memory, praxis and executive functions in children aged 6-13. It has been standardized on an Italian sample of 807 children. Raw scores were adjusted for critical variables (child's age and parents' education) and a cut-off for the resulting global cognitive score was made available for clinical practice. In line with previous research, adapting the Mini-Mental State Examination to pediatric neuropsychological assessment turned out to be useful in estimating global cognitive functioning in children.

Keywords: Children; Cognitive assessment; Development; MMSE; Pediatric screening; School-age.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Child
  • Cognition / physiology*
  • Executive Function / physiology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Italy
  • Language
  • Male
  • Memory / physiology*
  • Neuropsychological Tests
  • Orientation, Spatial / physiology*