Cognitive screening for children: Piloting a new battery of interactive games in 4- to 8-year-old children

Abstract

Cognitive screening at the preschool age can be helpful in the early detection of possible difficulties before the start of school attendance as problems during schooling can have profound consequences. While interactive tools are still limited for the Czech population, tools used for cognitive screening at a younger age often consist of traditional pen-and-paper methods. Such examinations can be very demanding and time-consuming. This pilot study therefore focuses on the usability testing of a newly developed battery of interactive games used for the screening of selected cognitive functions in children aged four to eight in a less demanding and more attractive way. The battery consists of three interactive games testing (1) attention (selective attention), (2) executive functions (inhibitory control), (3) memory (episodic-like memory). The study sample included 24 participants of preschool or younger school age, ranging from 4 to 8 years old, girls = 12 (50%). The analyses also concentrated on the comparison of the newly designed screening tool with selected traditional test methods. The results suggest that the newly developed battery is feasible, and for children, it is entertaining and attractive. The designed cognitive battery is a promising tool for the screening of cognitive functions in younger school-age children.

Keywords

• cognitive screening
• preschool children
• cognitive function
• game-based assessment
• memory
• attention