MMDST

Administration and
Scoring Directions
 SCORING DELAYS IN
DEVELOPMENT
• NO, pedals tricycle

• Child never had any opportunity to

try a bicycle…. never failed nor
refused

• Items scored NO are not considered

in the overall test scores.
 SCORING DELAYS IN
DEVELOPMENT

• Test item that is failed and which

falls completely to the left of age
line is considered a delay.

• Means, child failed to pass an item

which 90% of children normally
can pass at younger age
 SCORING DELAYS IN
DEVELOPMENT
• Delays are used to interpret the
total MMDST results.

• Delays on the test form are

emphasized by shading the right
end of the bar of the delayed
item.
 SCORING DELAYS IN
DEVELOPMENT
• If age line touches the right
end of the bar, the item is not
considered a delay.
 SCORING DELAYS IN
DEVELOPMENT
12 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24
 SCORING DELAYS IN
DEVELOPMENT
12 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

Delay because it completely

to the left of the age line

Not a delay because it is

Crossed by the age line

Not a delay because

bar only touches
the age line
 INTERPRETING THE TEST
RESULTS
• MMDST result is interpreted as
NOMRAL, QUESTIONABLE,
ABNORMAL OR UNTESTABLE
depending on the number of
delays
 INTERPRETING THE TEST
RESULTS
• Remember!!!!!! That a delay
is any failure that completely
falls to the left of the age line
 INTERPRETING THE TEST
RESULTS
• To properly interpret the
result of the test, follow the
steps listed
• Step 1
– Mark each delay by heavily
shading the right end of the bar
 INTERPRETING THE TEST
RESULTS
• Step 2
– Count the number of sectors that
have 2 or more delays
• Step 3
– Count the number of scores that
have 1 delay with no passes
intersecting the age line in the same
sector
INTERPRETING THE TEST
RESULTS
• Step 4
– Interpret the result using the
following criteria
– Next slide please
 CRITERIA INTERPRETATION
2 or more sectors with 2 or more delays ABNORMAL

1 sector with 2 or more delays plus 1 or ABNORMAL

more sectors with 1 delay and in that
same sector, no passes intersecting
the age line
1 sector with 2 or more delays QUESTIONABLE
1 or more sectors with 1 delay and in QUESTIONABLE
that sector, no passes intersecting the
age line
When REFUSALS occur in numbers UNTESTABLE
large enough to cause the test result to
be QUESTIONABLE or ABNORMAL if
these were scored as failures
Any condition not listed above NORMAL
 INTERPRETING THE TEST
RESULTS
• At the bottom of the age line,
indicate the test result and
interpretation
• E.g. Abnormal, reasons: 2
sectors have 2 delays
 DISCUSSING THE TEST RESULT

• At the end of the test, ask

parent whether child’s
performance is typical of his
ability and behavior.
• Why? Sometimes child may be
too shy, ill, tired, or upset when
tested to show what he can
actually perform
 DISCUSSING THE TEST
RESULT

• Overall interpretation should be

given to parent in general terms
rather than using the labels
ABNORMAL, QUESTIONABLE OR
NORMAL

• Praise child if child done well and

assure mother child is developing as
he should be
DISCUSSING THE TEST RESULT

• If, the child has a number of

delays, remind that this is just
a screening test and that you
would like to test the child
again after approximately two
weeks
 RETESTING

• To retest draw on the same

form the age line using
another color of pencil
• Write the date at the top of
new age line
 RETESTING

• If, a child is abnormal,

questionable, or untestable on
second test should be referred
to pediatrician or health
personnel for further
evaluation
 RETESTING

• Nurses can be trained to

teach parents skills in
developmental stimulation
• Continued surveillance and
periodic retesting should be
done
 AT
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