Summary
Earlier studies of the effects of low-level lead exposure in children suggested that attention and activity levels may be adversely affected. A recent study from our group (Hunter et al, 1985) replicated Needleman’s finding that reaction time under delayed conditions was related to increased blood levels, especially in younger children. Building on this work, and seeking to develop measures of more subtle effects, six tests have been developed for presentation on microcomputers. As far as possible, tests are administered and scored automatically to reduce tester bias.
Standardization data were collected on 500 children aged 6–11 years, along with measures of general intelligence, educational attainment and classroom behaviour. Immediate, short-term and long-term (3-month or 6-month) test-retest data were obtained on subsamples. The battery is also being used with 78 children whose blood lead levels have recently been assayed. This paper describes the tests, the developmental trends they reveal and their test-retest stability.
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References
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© 1989 ECSC-EEC-EAEC, Brussels — Luxembourg; EPA, USA
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Yule, W., Lansdown, R., Urbanowicz, M., Muddiman, D., Hunter, J. (1989). Automated Assessment of Attention, Vigilance and Learning in Relation to Children’s Lead Levels. In: Smith, M.A., Grant, L.D., Sors, A.I. (eds) Lead Exposure and Child Development. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-0847-5_15
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-0847-5_15
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
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