Screening for learning disabilities: A neuropsychological approach

The ability of the Trail Making Test (TMT) and Tactual Performance Test (TPT) to discriminate between learning‐disabled and normal children was examined. Twenty children aged 9 to 14 years who recently had been classified as learning disabled and 20 matched controls were administered individually the TPT, TMT, and two experimental forms of the TMT (parts X and Y). The data from the two groups were analyzed with a discriminant analysis. An overall accuracy rate of 82.5% was obtained when the measures were used to predict the classification status of individual children. A stepwise discriminant analysis procedure revealed an experimental form of the TMT (part X), Tactual Performance Test total time, and Tactual Performance Test localization to be the most sensitive measures. The use of such measures to screen for learning disabilities is discussed.