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The most persistent oral health disparities in the United States impact children from racial and ethnic minoritized groups and children diagnosed as autistic. This paper aims to describe barriers to oral care as depicted by Black/African... more
The most persistent oral health disparities in the United States impact children from racial and ethnic minoritized groups and children diagnosed as autistic. This paper aims to describe barriers to oral care as depicted by Black/African American (B/AA) parents of autistic children to further explore how and why oral health disparities persist in this population. A purposeful sample of eleven caregivers of autistic children, ages 4 to 14 years, who identified as B/AA were interviewed twice for approximately 60–90 min each. Thematic analysis utilizing a narrative approach was employed. Three themes emerged from the data concerning the barriers that affect oral health experiences: (a) difficulty in maintaining good oral health practices, (b) challenges with access to care and resources, and (c) poor patient-provider relationships. Due to the limited research that examines the intersection of autism, B/AA culture, and oral health practices, this study provides a rich picture of the bar...
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Date Presented 04/01/2022 Oral health is integral to well-being. This presentation will describe the innovative sensory-adapted dental environment and examine its efficacy among children ages 6–12 years with autism spectrum disorder... more
Date Presented 04/01/2022 Oral health is integral to well-being. This presentation will describe the innovative sensory-adapted dental environment and examine its efficacy among children ages 6–12 years with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). OTs should be part of the multidisciplinary team to address oral health challenges in children. Primary Author and Speaker: Leah I. Stein Duker Additional Authors and Speakers: Cheryl Vigen, Jose Polido, Sharon Cermak
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Date Presented 03/28/20 This study examined reliability and validity of the WCPA, an assessment of EF. Participants were 300 college students. Performance on two levels of the WCPA was compared to other EF measures and between students... more
Date Presented 03/28/20 This study examined reliability and validity of the WCPA, an assessment of EF. Participants were 300 college students. Performance on two levels of the WCPA was compared to other EF measures and between students with and without learning differences. There were small–moderate correlations between tests with Level II and no differences between students with and without learning differences, necessitating a more challenging version of the WCPA. Primary Author and Speaker: Eddie Chu Additional Authors and Speakers: Rashelle Nagata, Margaret Goodfellow, Katherine Tao, Ria Mehta, Sharon Cermak Contributing Authors: Patricia Tobey, Cheryl Vigen
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Date Presented 04/06/19 This study examined reliability and validity of the Weekly Calendar Planning Activity-Student version (WCPA-S), an assessment of EF. Participants were 120 graduate and undergraduate students, ages 18 to 30. The... more
Date Presented 04/06/19 This study examined reliability and validity of the Weekly Calendar Planning Activity-Student version (WCPA-S), an assessment of EF. Participants were 120 graduate and undergraduate students, ages 18 to 30. The WCPA-S was correlated with three other EF measures. Performance of students without and with learning challenges (e.g., ADHD, LD) was examined. There were small to moderate correlations among EF measures. It is essential for OT to have psychometrically sound measures. Primary Author and Speaker: Eddie Chu Additional Authors and Speakers: Sharon Cermak Contributing Authors: Rashelle Nagata, Creig Smith, Jesse Zhao, Margaret Goodfellow
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Date Presented 4/17/2015 In this session, we present the findings of a study in which we investigated the developmental stability of the seeking-sensory pattern though age groups and across clinical diagnostic groups. Implications for... more
Date Presented 4/17/2015 In this session, we present the findings of a study in which we investigated the developmental stability of the seeking-sensory pattern though age groups and across clinical diagnostic groups. Implications for assessment and intervention planning of occupational therapy practitioners are discussed.
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Importance: Sensory symptoms in people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are commonly reported by researchers. However, an often overlooked sensory aspect of ASD is sensory discrimination in general, and somatosensory discrimination in... more
Importance: Sensory symptoms in people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are commonly reported by researchers. However, an often overlooked sensory aspect of ASD is sensory discrimination in general, and somatosensory discrimination in particular. Objective: To examine what has and what has not yet been learned concerning the somatosensory discrimination abilities of people with ASD and to reveal gaps warranting further research. Design: Scoping review of clinical studies published 1995–2017 located through searches of PsycNET, PubMed, ERIC, and Google Scholar. Inclusion criteria were English-language peer-reviewed studies with (1) participants diagnosed with ASD, (2) a specific somatosensory discrimination measure, and (3) a comparison group. No age or intellectual exclusion criteria were established; studies were excluded if they were theoretical or descriptive, did not incorporate a control group, focused only on neurology or genetics, or used simple threshold detection measure...
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Prior studies show differences in empathy and affect-recognition ability between those with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and typically developing (TD) individuals. Autistic individuals also exhibit increased behavioral,... more
Prior studies show differences in empathy and affect-recognition ability between those with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and typically developing (TD) individuals. Autistic individuals also exhibit increased behavioral, gastrointestinal, and sleep issues. In the current study, we explored the differences in empathy and affect recognition between the ASD and TD groups; and we investigated their associations with conditions co-occurring in ASD. A total of 54 TD and 56 ASD children (8–17 years) were included. As compared to the TD group, the ASD group showed lower scores for affect recognition and perspective taking (PT) and higher scores for personal distress (PD). Interestingly, results from hierarchical linear regressions suggested that disparities in the PD and PT between the groups were primarily attributable to attenuated levels of alexithymia, rather than being mediated by the presence of an autism diagnosis. Differences in affect-recognition ability, however, were mediated by...
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Importance: Early identification of young children at risk of developmental coordination disorder (DCD) can support early intervention and prevent secondary sequelae. Objective: To examine the psychometric properties of a translated and... more
Importance: Early identification of young children at risk of developmental coordination disorder (DCD) can support early intervention and prevent secondary sequelae. Objective: To examine the psychometric properties of a translated and cross-culturally adapted version of the Little Developmental Coordination Disorder Questionnaire–Taiwan (LDCDQ–TW). Design: Prospective study. Setting: Kindergartens and preschools in north, central, and south Taiwan. Participants: In Phase 1 the participants were 1,124 parents of typically developing children ages 36–71 mo. Children with confirmed developmental diagnoses were excluded. Participants in Phase 3 were 162 children who had been recruited in Phase 2. Outcomes and Measures: The LDCDQ–TW, a 15-item parent questionnaire for identifying children at risk for DCD, and the Movement Assessment Battery for Children (2nd ed.; MABC–2), were administered. Results: The findings revealed excellent test–retest reliability (intraclass correlation coeffic...
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Date Presented 04/06/19 This course highlights developments and findings in a neuroscience study as they relate to OT for children and adolescents with ASD. The presenters discuss findings from an ongoing functional magnetic resonance... more
Date Presented 04/06/19 This course highlights developments and findings in a neuroscience study as they relate to OT for children and adolescents with ASD. The presenters discuss findings from an ongoing functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study that investigates the neural basis of how children with ASD imitate social and motor stimuli. Study results can be used to inform clinical approaches for research-informed client-centered OT interventions. Primary Author and Speaker: Emily Kilroy Additional Authors and Speakers: Christiana Butera Contributing Authors: Cristin Zeisler, Laura Harrison, Sharon Cermak, Lisa Aziz-Zadeh
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Date Presented 4/16/2015 The association among physical fitness, obesity, and gender in children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD) and typical children was studied. Findings show that children with DCD are less physically fit... more
Date Presented 4/16/2015 The association among physical fitness, obesity, and gender in children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD) and typical children was studied. Findings show that children with DCD are less physically fit and more overweight. Girls weighed more and had a significantly higher percentage of body fat than boys. Further studies are essential.
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Oral health is a vital component of overall health. Children from underserved, minoritized populations (i.e., Black/African Americans, autistic children) are at even greater risk for experiencing oral health disparities. This study aims... more
Oral health is a vital component of overall health. Children from underserved, minoritized populations (i.e., Black/African Americans, autistic children) are at even greater risk for experiencing oral health disparities. This study aims to illuminate the oral health knowledge, attitudes, and practices of Black/African American caregivers of autistic and non-autistic children. Black/African American caregivers of children (4-to-14 years) on the autism spectrum (n = 65) or not on the autism spectrum (n = 60), participated in a survey, with input from literature reviews, interviews, previous research, and reviews by experts. Caregivers demonstrated basic knowledge of oral health with significantly lower scores for caregivers of autistic children. Caregivers care about oral health and would like to increase their knowledge. Significant differences in oral care practices were found between the autistic and non-autistic groups. Caregivers reported they can access dental services with rela...
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Importance: Children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are often referred to occupational therapy practitioners so their sensory features and their repetitive and restricted behaviors and interests (RRBIs) can be addressed.... more
Importance: Children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are often referred to occupational therapy practitioners so their sensory features and their repetitive and restricted behaviors and interests (RRBIs) can be addressed. RRBIs include an insistence on sameness, narrow interests, rigid routines, and rituals. However, there is a paucity of knowledge concerning the association between sensory features—across patterns, modalities, and contexts—and high-order RRBIs among children with ASD who are cognitively able. Objective: To examine the association between sensory features across sensory patterns, modalities, and contexts and high-order RRBIs in children with ASD. Design: Correlational clinical study based on parent questionnaire responses. Setting: General education system in Israel. Participants: Parents of 39 cognitively able school-age children with ASD (ages 6–10 yr; 34 boys and 5 girls), recruited by means of convenience sampling. Outcomes: High-order RRBIs were a...
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Background: Oral care activities, e.g., toothbrushing, are habitual occupations often considered routine. However, for autistic children, performing these routine dental practices can be challenging due to the child’s sensory... more
Background: Oral care activities, e.g., toothbrushing, are habitual occupations often considered routine. However, for autistic children, performing these routine dental practices can be challenging due to the child’s sensory sensitivities, unique executive function, and the complicated way in which autistic children conceptualize structure and habits. Limited research exists exploring the nuances of oral care routines in the autistic population, and more knowledge is needed to support targeted education interventions to improve oral care and address health inequities. The purpose of this study was to examine videos of oral care routines in the home to understand how oral care activities, such as toothbrushing, were performed by autistic and non-autistic Latino/a children. Methods: Parents/caregivers from eighteen Latino/a families with children between 6 and 12 years old (n = 10 autistic children and n = 8 non-autistic children) video recorded their child’s oral care routines for t...
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Date Presented 04/04/19 Disparities exist regarding ASD diagnosis for Latino children. Findings from narrative interviews exploring how Latino parents and caregivers perceive ASD diagnosis will help illuminate how health information is... more
Date Presented 04/04/19 Disparities exist regarding ASD diagnosis for Latino children. Findings from narrative interviews exploring how Latino parents and caregivers perceive ASD diagnosis will help illuminate how health information is communicated within this at-risk population and inform the development of future targeted education and intervention programs. Primary Author and Speaker: Lucia Florindez Additional Authors and Speakers: Dominique Como, Daniella Florindez, Sharon Cermak, Leah Duker
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Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the oral care experiences and challenges encountered by children with Down syndrome. Methods: Participants were 372 parents of five- to 14-year-olds with Down syndrome. Parents... more
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the oral care experiences and challenges encountered by children with Down syndrome. Methods: Participants were 372 parents of five- to 14-year-olds with Down syndrome. Parents completed a 48-item questionnaire designed by the authors to elicit information about oral care in the home and dental office. Descriptive statistics were used to examine oral care variables. Results: Parents reported difficulty across almost all oral care variables, including oral care in the home, oral care at the dentist, and access to oral care. Approximately one-third of parent respondents reported that toothbrushing was difficult and brushing occurred four or fewer days a week. Over half of the respondents reported that it was difficult to have a dental professional clean their child's teeth, uncooperative behaviors and sensory sensitivities increased in the office, and those behaviors and sensitivities made care challenging. Most respondents rep...
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Purpose: This pilot study used data from a survey to examine the knowledge, attitudes, and practices about oral care of Latinx parents/caregivers of children with or without autism spectrum disorder (ASD) to identify gaps to focus future... more
Purpose: This pilot study used data from a survey to examine the knowledge, attitudes, and practices about oral care of Latinx parents/caregivers of children with or without autism spectrum disorder (ASD) to identify gaps to focus future intervention. Methods: Sixty English-speaking Latinx parents/caregivers who had a child between 4 and 14 years with or without ASD (n=31 ASD, n=29 typically developing [TD]) completed a questionnaire on oral health knowledge, practices, access to care, and demographics. Caregiver responses were compared, and gaps in knowledge and practices were identified. Results: There were no significant differences in parent age, child age, income, insured status, or overall knowledge scores, only a significant difference in education (p=0.02), with the ASD group reporting less. Scores for knowledge, attitudes, access and practice were all nonsignificantly positively correlated, as was attitudes with access and practice. However, knowledge and attitudes were sig...
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BACKGROUND Sensory over-responsivity has been linked to oral care challenges in children with special healthcare needs. Parents of children with Down syndrome (cDS) have reported sensory over-responsivity in their children, but the link... more
BACKGROUND Sensory over-responsivity has been linked to oral care challenges in children with special healthcare needs. Parents of children with Down syndrome (cDS) have reported sensory over-responsivity in their children, but the link between this and oral care difficulties has not been explored. AIM Investigate relationship between sensory over-responsivity and oral care challenges in cDS. DESIGN Online survey examined parent-report responses describing their cDS's oral care (5-14yrs; n=367); children were categorized as sensory over-responders (SORs) or sensory not over-responders (SNORs). Chi-square analyses tested associations between groups (SORs vs. SNORs) and dichotomous oral care variables. RESULTS More parents of SOR children, compared to SNOR, reported that: child behavior (SOR:86%, SNOR:77%; p<.05) and sensory sensitivities (SOR:34%, SNOR:18%; p<.001) make dental care challenging, their child complains about ≥3 types of sensory stimuli encountered during care (SOR:39%, SNOR:28%; p=.04), their dentist is specialized in treating children with special needs (SOR:45%, SNOR:33%; p=.03), and their child requires full assistance to brush teeth (SOR:41%, SNOR:28%; p=.008). No group differences were found in items examining parent-reported oral health or care access. CONCLUSIONS Parents of SOR children report greater challenges than parents of SNOR children at the dentist and in the home, including challenging behaviors and sensory sensitivities.
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Date Presented 4/17/2015 Psychological distress is a risk factor for mental health concerns. This study’s findings demonstrate reduced quality of life and elevated psychological distress within general population adults with sensory... more
Date Presented 4/17/2015 Psychological distress is a risk factor for mental health concerns. This study’s findings demonstrate reduced quality of life and elevated psychological distress within general population adults with sensory modulation disorder (SMD), hence validating the far-reaching claimed manifestations that SMD generates.
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Fur kleine Kinder stellt das Leben in einer reizarmen Umgebung (z.B. in einem Heim oder einer anderen Institution, bei wechselnder Pflegeunterbringung oder in Armut) ein erhohtes Gesundheitsrisiko dar: Unterernahrung, Wachstumsstorungen,... more
Fur kleine Kinder stellt das Leben in einer reizarmen Umgebung (z.B. in einem Heim oder einer anderen Institution, bei wechselnder Pflegeunterbringung oder in Armut) ein erhohtes Gesundheitsrisiko dar: Unterernahrung, Wachstumsstorungen, Verhaltensprobleme und Entwicklungsverzogerungen konnen die Folgen sein. In letzter Zeit wurden bei ehemals in Institutionen untergebrachten Kindern von Fachleuten und Eltern Zeichen sensorischer Integrationsstorungen beobachtet. Diese beeintrachtigen die Fahigkeit zu lernen, zu spielen, sich in der Offentlichkeit zu bewegen, Beziehungen zu Erziehern und Gleichaltrigen aufzubauen und unabhangig zu werden. Obwohl nicht alle Heimkinder sensorisch-integrative Probleme aufweisen, zeigen neue Studien uber die Auswirkungen von Institutionalisierung, dass diese Kinder ein signifikant erhohtes Risiko haben. In den USA werden Kleinkinder zwar nicht mehr in Heimen untergebracht, doch gibt es weltweit immer noch Hunderttausende von Kindern, die in Heimen aufwachsen.
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This study was aimed to identify the predictors of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) by considering the caregiver's characteristics such as mental health and parenting stress as well as child characteristics in preschool children... more
This study was aimed to identify the predictors of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) by considering the caregiver's characteristics such as mental health and parenting stress as well as child characteristics in preschool children with Autism spectrum disorders (ASD). A total of 106 children aged 36–70 months participated in this study. The study indicated that the predictors of HRQOL in children with ASD encompassed not only child but also caregiver characteristics. In particular, good HRQOL on the domains of social and emotional functioning in children with ASD depended upon the caregiver's mental well-being. In summary, the present findings highlight the need for assessment of caregivers’ parenting stress and their mental status as well as the predictors of HRQOL in children with ASD. Furthermore, the findings of the study could serve as a guide for clinicians to target at the predictors when providing assessment and intervention for children with ASD to improve their...
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In healthcare settings, language used by healthcare providers can influence provider-patient encounters with individuals with autism spectrum disorder, impacting feelings of stigma and marginalization. This study highlights the... more
In healthcare settings, language used by healthcare providers can influence provider-patient encounters with individuals with autism spectrum disorder, impacting feelings of stigma and marginalization. This study highlights the unconscious biases healthcare providers might have regarding their patients with autism spectrum disorder and how those beliefs are articulated. Seven pediatric dentists participated in two focus groups to describe strategies to improve oral care for children with autism spectrum disorder. While completing the primary analyses, additional codes emerged related to healthcare provider biases; these data are the focus of this study. Three themes were identified: (i) "healthcare microaggressions" describe how healthcare providers portray their patients in subtly negative ways; (ii) "marginalization" denotes the use of exclusionary language identifying children with autism spectrum disorder as different; and (iii) "preconceptions" include comments that highlight biases about patients. The findings provide insight into the implicit biases that might be held by healthcare providers and how they manifest in language. Despite increased emphasis on cultural competency, healthcare providers might unconsciously use language that could negatively impact patient-provider rapport and increase stigma in already marginalized populations. Further research is necessary to explore how these biases could relate to quality of care.
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Date Presented 3/31/2017 Concurrent validity between the Sensory Over-Responsivity Inventory and the Adolescent/Adult Sensory Profile was examined among 556 typical adults. Results indicate a moderate correlation between measures that... more
Date Presented 3/31/2017 Concurrent validity between the Sensory Over-Responsivity Inventory and the Adolescent/Adult Sensory Profile was examined among 556 typical adults. Results indicate a moderate correlation between measures that varies across individual sensory systems. Primary Author and Speaker: Michelle Kanda Additional Authors and Speakers: Laura Ruzzano, Emily Cohen, Sharon Cermak
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The Sensory Integration and Praxis Tests (SIPT) (Ayres, 1989) were administered to 21 children with learning disabilities and 18 children without learning disabilities, aged 5 to 8 years. The children with learning disabilities were... more
The Sensory Integration and Praxis Tests (SIPT) (Ayres, 1989) were administered to 21 children with learning disabilities and 18 children without learning disabilities, aged 5 to 8 years. The children with learning disabilities were divided into two groups, clumsy and nonclumsy, on the basis of their scores on the Test of Motor Impairment (Stott, Moyes, & Henderson, 1984). It was hypothesized that the learning-disabled children in the clumsy group would score significantly lower than the learning-disabled children in the nonclumsy group on the six SIPT subtests that measure form and space perception and visual construction and that the nonclumsy learning-disabled children, in turn, would score significantly lower than the non-learning-disabled children. It was further hypothesized that there would be a significant correlation between the degree of clumsiness and the degree of visual perceptual and constructional deficits. An analysis of the data indicated that both groups of learnin...
Research Interests: Psychology, Medicine, Space perception, Humans, Child, and 9 moreForm perception, Developmental disabilities, Clinical Sciences, Public health systems and services research, Learning Disorders, Psychomotor Performance, American Occupational Therapy Association, Neuropsychological Tests, and Child preschool
This paper reviews selected pertinent literature on the learning and performance of skilled motor acts. Information on normal motor performance is integrated with that on adult apraxia and related to common problems observed in children... more
This paper reviews selected pertinent literature on the learning and performance of skilled motor acts. Information on normal motor performance is integrated with that on adult apraxia and related to common problems observed in children with developmental dyspraxia. The process of motor skill acquisition is outlined, and aspects of styles of motor organization, modes of control, premovement organization, sensory organization, and analysis of the types of errors are presented. Recommendations for clinicians working with children with developmental dyspraxia are offered.
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The purpose of this study was to collect normative data on and to assess the clinical usefulness of scales designed to measure the quality of children’s ability to perform three bilateral motor coordination tasks: jumping jacks,... more
The purpose of this study was to collect normative data on and to assess the clinical usefulness of scales designed to measure the quality of children’s ability to perform three bilateral motor coordination tasks: jumping jacks, symmetrical stride jumps and reciprocal stride jumps. One hundred children, aged 5 to 9 years, were tested according to the scales developed for this study. Results indicated that scores tended to increase with age and that sex differences were not significant. Jumping jacks were found to be the most reliable and the easiest of the three tasks. Reciprocal stride jumps were the most difficult. Quality of performance was assessed, and the number of jumps in a 10-sec trial was recorded for each age. The data from this study may be useful in comparing the performance of children with motor deficits to the performance of normal children of the same age.
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One visual-perceptual test, four visual-motor tests, and a test of motor impairment were administered to 22 children with learning disabilities and 22 children without learning disabilities, aged 5 to 8 years. The children with learning... more
One visual-perceptual test, four visual-motor tests, and a test of motor impairment were administered to 22 children with learning disabilities and 22 children without learning disabilities, aged 5 to 8 years. The children with learning disabilities were divided into two groups—“clumsy” and “nonclumsy”—based on their scores on the motor impairment test. It was hypothesized that the clumsy children with learning disabilities would score significantly lower on visual-perceptual and visual-motor tests than the nonclumsy children with learning disabilities who, in turn, would score significantly lower than the children without learning disabilities. It was further hypothesized that there would be a significant correlation between the degree of clumsiness and the degree of visual-perceptual and visual-motor deficit. Analysis of the data indicated that, as expected, the clumsy children with learning disabilities scored significantly lower than the children without learning disabilities (t...
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This study was designed to examine the relationship between articulation disorders, soft neurological signs, and motor abilities. Fifteen children with articulation problems, as measured by the Templin-Darley Articulation Screening Test... more
This study was designed to examine the relationship between articulation disorders, soft neurological signs, and motor abilities. Fifteen children with articulation problems, as measured by the Templin-Darley Articulation Screening Test and a connected speech sample, were compared with a normal control group (matched for sex and age) on the Quick Neurological Screening Test, the Imitation of Postures test (from the Southern California Sensory Integration Tests), and the 1984 version of the Stott Test of Motor Impairment that has been revised by Henderson. A Significant difference was found between the groups on the Motor Impairment Test and the Quick Neurological Screening Test, supporting the hypothesis that the articulation disorder children would have more motor coordination problems and soft neurological signs than the normal children in the control group. There was no between-group difference on the Imitation of Postures test, suggesting that as a group, children with articulat...
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This study was designed to examine the validity of the Design Copying and Constructional Praxis subtests of the Sensory Integration and Praxis Tests (SIPT) (Ayres, 1989) through an examination of convergent validity and the use of... more
This study was designed to examine the validity of the Design Copying and Constructional Praxis subtests of the Sensory Integration and Praxis Tests (SIPT) (Ayres, 1989) through an examination of convergent validity and the use of contrast groups. The subjects were 39 children aged 5 to 8 years. Of these children, 21 had learning disabilities and 18, who served as the control group, had no learning disabilities. The subjects were administered the SIPT as well as four other standardized measures of constructional abilities: the Developmental Test of Visual-Motor Integration (Beery, 1980), the Block Design subtest of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children–Revised (Wechsler, 1974), the Primary Visual Motor Test (Haworth, 1970), and the Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure Test (Waber & Holmes, 1985). The results indicated that the children with learning disabilities performed significantly more poorly than did the control subjects on both the Design Copying and Constructional Praxis sub...
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OBJECTIVE. This study developed an assessment of ideational praxis, examined its psychometric properties, and analyzed age and gender trends in children who were typically developing. METHOD. Part 1 developed items and scoring criteria of... more
OBJECTIVE. This study developed an assessment of ideational praxis, examined its psychometric properties, and analyzed age and gender trends in children who were typically developing. METHOD. Part 1 developed items and scoring criteria of the Test of Ideational Praxis (TIP) and examined interrater reliability and internal consistency. Part 2 studied performance of 80 typically developing children between ages 5 and 8 years. RESULTS. The TIP demonstrated acceptable interrater reliability (ICC = .85) and internal consistency (coefficient alpha = .74). Children who were typically developing demonstrated age and gender trends. Girls scored higher than boys, and older children scored higher than younger children. CONCLUSION. The TIP is the first objective assessment for identification of ideational abilities and is a reliable assessment tool. Further research is needed to validate the construct of ideation and examine the TIP’s ability to discriminate between children with and without id...