Healthy children and adolescents obtain some low scores across a battery of memory tests
Abstract
Obtaining some low memory scores across a battery of tests is common. The purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence of low scores on the Children’s Memory Scale (CMS). Participants were 1000 children and adolescents between 5 and 16 years of age from the CMS standardization sample. Consistent with research on other batteries, having some low memory scores is common in healthy children and adolescents. The prevalence of low memory scores also increases with lower intelligence. Clinicians should be cautious when interpreting isolated low memory scores as sole evidence of memory impairment. Knowing the prevalence of low scores as a supplement to clinical judgment should reduce the likelihood of misdiagnosing memory problems. (JINS, 2009, 15, 613–617.)
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The frequency of obtaining one or more low scores ≤ 5th percentile considering six subtests from the Children's Memory Scale is 22.4%.
“the frequency of obtaining one or more low scores ≤ 5th percentile considering six subtests from the Children’s Memory Scale is 22.4% (Brooks et al., 2009)”
From Cognitive weaknesses or impairments on the NIH toolbox cognition battery in children and adolescents: base rates in a normative sample and proposed methods for classification (2025) · cites this paper as Brooks et al., 2009
Numerous prior studies have found that intellectual ability is associated with the likelihood of obtaining low scores across pediatric test batteries.
“Numerous prior studies have found that intellectual ability is associated with the likelihood of obtaining low scores across pediatric test batteries (Brooks, 2010, 2011; Brooks et al., 2009; Cook et al., 2019).”
From Cognitive weaknesses or impairments on the NIH toolbox cognition battery in children and adolescents: base rates in a normative sample and proposed methods for classification (2025) · cites this paper as Brooks et al., 2009
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- Authors
- BROOKS, B. L., IVERSON, G. L., SHERMAN, E. M. S., & HOLDNACK, J. A.
- Affiliations
- University of Calgary (CA)
- University of British Columbia (CA)
- Corresponding author
- BROOKS, BRIAN L.
- Venue
- Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society
- Publisher
- Cambridge University Press (CUP)
- Published
- 2009-07
- Volume
- 15
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 613-617
- ISSN
- 1355-6177 (ISSN-L)
- 1469-7661
- OpenAlex
- W2164383331
- Cited by
- 50
- References
- 19
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 1 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 1 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 1 · 2015: 5 · 2014: 1 · 2013: 3 · 2012: 4
- FWCI
- 5.49
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- University of Cambridge
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Applied Psychology › Psychological Testing and Assessment
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology › Developmental and Educational Neuropsychology
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Cognitive Abilities and Testing
- Keywords
- prevalence, healthy children and adolescents, intelligence, memory impairment, misdiagnosis, clinical judgment, standardization sample
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Child, Child, Preschool, Female, Humans, Intelligence, Male, Memory, Memory Disorders, Neuropsychological Tests
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