Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-fscjk Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-24T12:06:08.272Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Development and Piloting of the Starship Posttraumatic Amnesia Scale for Children Aged Between Four and Six Years

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 February 2012

Kris Fernando ,
Lynette Eaton ,
Morag Faulkner ,
Yogi Moodley  and
Raylene Setchell
Kris Fernando*
Affiliation:
Children's Therapy Services and Consult Liaison Team, Starship Children's Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand. [email protected]
Lynette Eaton
Affiliation:
Children's Therapy Services and Consult Liaison Team, Starship Children's Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand.
Morag Faulkner
Affiliation:
Children's Therapy Services and Consult Liaison Team, Starship Children's Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand.
Yogi Moodley
Affiliation:
Children's Therapy Services and Consult Liaison Team, Starship Children's Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand.
Raylene Setchell
Affiliation:
Children's Therapy Services and Consult Liaison Team, Starship Children's Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand.
*
*Address for correspondence: Dr Kris Fernando, Consult Liaison Team, Level 3, Starship Children's Hospital, Private Bag 92024, Auckland 1030, New Zealand.
Get access

Abstract

The aim of this study was to develop and pilot a posttraumatic amnesia scale (PTA) scale for children aged between four and six years. The scale consists of seven orientation questions and five memory items modelled on the Westmead PTA Scale which assesses posttraumatic amnesia in children from eight years onwards and adults. The sample consisted of 45 four-year-olds, 82 five-year-olds and 49 six-year-old children from a variety of cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds. Children were recruited from hospitals, kindergartens and schools. Results were analysed across age groups using means and standard deviations. The orientation and memory items were analysed separately as well as in combination. Early analyses indicate that the majority of normal children in the four to 6 year age group can answer most of the orientation questions correctly and remember the memory stimuli from day to day. The results indicate that the Starship PTA Scale is suitable for young children aged 4 to 6 years. It is simple and quick to administer and utilises an operational definition of posttraumatic amnesia in terms of measuring continuous memory.

Type
Articles
Information
Brain Impairment , Volume 3 , Issue 1 , 01 May 2002 , pp. 34 - 41
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2002

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.)