What is it about?
The Ten Questions Questionnaire (TQQ+) is a rapid screening tool developed for children aged 2-9 years in resource-poor settings. It has been successfully used in several countries as a disability screening tool. However, it has not been validated for older children. This study aims to validate the TQQ+ for older children by comparing its results with established assessments.
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Why is it important?
Early identification and diagnosis of neurodevelopmental disabilities in children are crucial to provide timely interventions and support. Screening children not meeting developmental milestones can help identify those who would benefit from further evaluation and assistance. The Ten Questions Questionnaire (TQQ+) was developed as a quick screening tool for sensory, motor, cognitive, and seizure-related issues in children between the ages of 2 and 9, particularly in resource-poor settings. Children who screen positive on the TQQ+ may undergo further assessment for specific disabilities, which can be particularly valuable in countries with limited professional support.
Perspectives
We carried out the study in Chattogram, Bangladesh. We selected 100 children: 50 with disabilities (10 with mild or moderate disabilities and 40 with severe disabilities) and 50 without disabilities. The children with disabilities had already been assessed by psychologists using a test called the Wechsler Intelligence Scale-Revised (WISC-R). We evaluated each child using a quick assessment called the Rapid Neurodevelopmental Assessment (RNDA), and the researchers administered the TQQ+ questionnaire. When we compared the TQQ+ results with the RNDA and WISC-R assessments, we found that the questionnaire was able to identify disabilities with a high level of accuracy. It correctly identified cognitive disabilities 98% of the time, motor disabilities 75% of the time, and behavioral problems 88.9% of the time. The questionnaire also performed well in other areas. Overall, it was a good tool for predicting disabilities as confirmed by the RNDA and WISC-R tests. We can confidently say that the TQQ+ questionnaire is effective for screening disabilities in Bangladeshi children aged 10 to 16 years. By identifying disabilities early, we can provide better support and intervention for these children.
Dr. Syeda Humaida Hasan
Chittagong Medical College
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: A study to validate the Ten-Question-Questionnaire + for the detection of moderate to severe neurological disabilities in older Bangladeshi children, Disability and Rehabilitation, May 2022, Taylor & Francis,
DOI: 10.1080/09638288.2022.2079735.
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