Maddak

The Do-Eat Performance-Based Assessment for Children is a performance-based ecological assessment for children ages 5 to 8 years newly available from Wayne, NJ-based Maddak Inc. The assessment is directed at children who are affected by atypical motor development such as DCD, ADHD, learning disabilities, and nonverbal learning disabilities

According to a media release from Maddak, the assessment is designed to evaluate areas of strength and difficulty children have in performing both ADLs and IADLs. It also can help define customized therapeutic goals for intervention and provide information about how a child functions in the natural environment.

Using top-down and bottom-up approaches as well as ecological validity, the Do-Eat Performance-Based Assessment reportedly can examine sensory-motor performance skill, executive function, and behavioral and emotional measures. The tool includes dynamic assessment principles that aim to help identify the type of conditions, assistance, and mediation needed for a child to successfully perform an activity. The assessment focuses on food preparation, drawing, writing, and cutting, and is designed to contain reliability and validity data.

Among the activities by which children are assessed are those that require the children to prepare a sandwich and a glass of chocolate milk, and complete a certificate.

The performance-based test assesses executive functions and sensory motor skills. This product fits in a standard size nylon duffel bag for portability.

A video demonstration of the test is available online.

[Source: Maddak]