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Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children
Availability
Please visit this website for more information about the instrument:
 
Classification
Supplemental: Cerebral Palsy (CP) and Mitochondrial Diseases (Mito)
Short Description of Instrument

The Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children-II (KABC-II) is an instrument used to test intelligence in children ages 3–18years. The instrument is based on two parallel models of intellectual functioning; the Luria or neuropsychological model excludes measure of verbal ability which may bias test results in those for whom English is not a first language, or who may not have had educational exposure to be successful at measures of verbal knowledge. Substests are designed to minimize verbal instructions to limit influence of language on overall results. A second model, the Cattell/Horn/Carroll model emphasizes fluid and crystalized intelligence.

Rationale/Justification
Strengths/Weaknesses: The instrument is widely used and culturally fair, allowing testing across multiple settings. The wide age range assessed lends itself well to longitudinal follow-up in a pediatric population.
 
Specific to Mitochondrial Disease:
 
Advantages: Has been demonstrated to be sensitive to neurodegeneration in a pediatric sample, and thus is useful for measuring change in cognitive staus over time (Delaney et al., 2013)
 
Limitations: Requires use of manipulatives which may be difficult for individuals with motor impairment.
Scoring

The test is comprised of 18 subtests in all, both core and supplemental. The specific subtests administered vary depending on whether the Luria model or CHC model is selected as well as the age of the child being assessed. Subtests in the Luria model are grouped into 4 spearate indices: Sequential Processing Scale, Simultaneous processing Scale, Learning Ability and Planning Ability. CHC model uses the same indices with different names and adds one additional verbal scale: Term Memory (Gsm), Visual Processing (Gv), Long Term Storage and Retrieval (Glr) and Fluid Reasoning (Gf) plus an additional 5th scale Crystallised Ability (Gc). Raw scores from each subtest are totaled and yield a scaled score based on age-based norms and these scaled scores are totaled to yield scores for index scores. Each model also yields a general intelligence score; the Mental Processing Index for the Luria model and the Fluid-Crystalized Index in the CHC model.

References
Kaufman, A.S., & Kaufman, N.L. (1983). Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children. Circle Pines, MN: American Guidance Service.
 
Kaufman, A. S., & Kaufman, N. L. (2004). Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children-second edition (K-ABC-II). Circle Pines, MN: American Guidance Service.
 
Kaufman, A. S., Lichtenberger, E. O., Fletcher-Janzen, E., & Kaufman, N. L. (2005). Essentials of KABC-II assessment. New York: John Wiley & Sons.
 
Additional References:
 
Delaney KA, Rudser KR, Yund BD, Whitley CB, Haslett PA, Shapiro EG. Methods of neurodevelopmental assessment in children with neurodegenerative disease: Sanfilippo syndrome. JIMD Rep. 2014;13:129-137.
 
Donders J. Validity of the Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children when employed with children with traumatic brain injury. J Clin Psychol. 1992;48(2):225-230.
 
Lichtenberger, E. O., Kaufman, A. S., & Kaufman, N. L. (1998). The K-ABC: Theory and Application. In R. J. Samuda (Ed.), Advances in cross-cultural assessment (pp. 20-55). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
 
Lichtenberger, Elizabeth O.; Broadbooks, Debra Y.; Kaufman, Alan S. (2000). Essentials of Cognitive Assessment with KAIT and Other Kaufman Measures . New York: Wiley. ISBN 978-0-471-38317-8.
 
Worthington GB 3rd, Bening ME. Use of the Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children in predicting achievement among students referred for special education services. J Learn Disabil. 1988;21(6):370-374.

 

Document last updated April 2018