Hostname: page-component-8448b6f56d-t5pn6 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-25T00:35:19.544Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

The Westmead Post-Traumatic Amnesia Scale for Children (WPTAS-C) Aged 4 and 5 Years Old

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 February 2012

Antonella Rocca*
Affiliation:
The Rehabilitation Department, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Australia. antonella.rocca@sswahs.nsw.gov.au
Margaret Wallen
Affiliation:
Occupational Therapy Department, The Children's Hospital at Westmead.
Jennifer Batchelor
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Macquarie University.
*
*Address for correspondence: Antonella Rocca, Rivendell Child, Adolescent and Family Mental Health Services, Thomas Walker Hospital, Hospital Rd, Concord West NSW 2138, Australia.
Get access

Abstract

Assessment of posttraumatic amnesia (PTA) in young children remains problematic. This article details a version of the Westmead PTA Scale, which was adapted for use with children aged 4 and 5 years, and an evaluation of this scale with typically developing children. The Westmead PTA Scale for Children (WPTAS-C) comprises 2 orientation and 4 memory questions, including 2 items involving remembering pictures of familiar objects. Participants included 55 preschool and kindergarten children aged 4 and 5 years. The scale was administered for 4 consecutive days. Ninety-three per cent of the children achieved a score of 6 out 6 for the final 3 days of the 4-day test period. It is concluded that the WPTAS-C is an appropriate measure of orientation and continuous memory in 4- and 5-year-old typically developing children. Validation of the scale in clinical populations is recommended.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2008

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)