Psychometrics of Neurological Soft Signs

Objective: To examine the psychometrics of neurological soft signs in young children. Method: In a sample of 42 children from the community, two examiners simultaneously rated soft signs using a standardized examination. A subsample (n = 33) was reexamined twice over the next week to estimate test-retest reliability. Results: Total score exhibited acceptable internal consistency as well as interrater and test-retest reliability. Psychometrics for individual items appeared less satisfactory than for the total score. Discussion: Although examiners can reliably rate a variety of soft signs, more research examining test-retest reliability is needed. A reliable examination might be useful in future efforts to document the neuropsychiatric correlates of soft signs.