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The Westmead Post-Traumatic Amnesia Scale for Children (WPTAS-C) Aged 4 and 5 Years Old

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 February 2012

Antonella Rocca*
Affiliation:
The Rehabilitation Department, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Australia. antonella.rocca@sswahs.nsw.gov.au
Margaret Wallen
Affiliation:
Occupational Therapy Department, The Children's Hospital at Westmead.
Jennifer Batchelor
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Macquarie University.
*
*Address for correspondence: Antonella Rocca, Rivendell Child, Adolescent and Family Mental Health Services, Thomas Walker Hospital, Hospital Rd, Concord West NSW 2138, Australia.
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Abstract

Assessment of posttraumatic amnesia (PTA) in young children remains problematic. This article details a version of the Westmead PTA Scale, which was adapted for use with children aged 4 and 5 years, and an evaluation of this scale with typically developing children. The Westmead PTA Scale for Children (WPTAS-C) comprises 2 orientation and 4 memory questions, including 2 items involving remembering pictures of familiar objects. Participants included 55 preschool and kindergarten children aged 4 and 5 years. The scale was administered for 4 consecutive days. Ninety-three per cent of the children achieved a score of 6 out 6 for the final 3 days of the 4-day test period. It is concluded that the WPTAS-C is an appropriate measure of orientation and continuous memory in 4- and 5-year-old typically developing children. Validation of the scale in clinical populations is recommended.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2008

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