Test 01 Visual Praxis: Designs (VPr: D)

This test assesses the child’s ability to visually perceive and copy simple to complex designs.  In addition to accuracy, the way the child draws (e.g. if the drawing is drawn segmentally or touches the boundary) is also considered in scoring. The first items on this test are drawn on a dot and later items are drawn in open spaces.

Test 02 Visual Perception: Search (VP:S)

This test measures visual perception of objects and the ability to discriminate objects/shapes from within images of “grouped” objects/shapes and to recognize objects/shapes presented in a wide range of orientations. There are items, presented in groups of 4, which the child is asked to find in a larger “grouped” picture. Each item is scored for accuracy (1 or 0); in addition, the number of seconds it takes for the child to find the single object/ shape is also recorded.

Test 03 Praxis: Ideation (Pr:I)

This test aims to assess the child’s ability to form and demonstrate ideas about possible actions in four items, namely with a chair, with hands, with some everyday objects and with the body. For the pilot study version, the child is given 60 seconds for each of the 4 items and a maximum of 16 actions are tallied for each item.

Test 04 Praxis: Positions (Pr:P)

The Praxis Positions test (Pr:P) measures the child’s ability to imitate positions that have been demonstrated by the examiner, in three sections, namely BODY, HANDS and FACE.  The only material needed is the examiner test sheet (see appendix 04 Praxis: Positions Pr:P).

Test 05 Postural Control (PC)

This test aims to assess the child’s ability to make postural adjustments and to use righting and equilibrium reactions in a variety of positions.  The Postural Control test includes items previously developed by Ayres as “Clinical Observations,” such as assumption of prone extension and supine flexion positions, extension of arms with eyes closed and other postural control and equilibrium reactions. The examiner presents trial items/demos for each item and uses the trials to ensure that the child understands the test. Most items from 1-21 are scored 2, 1, or 0; items 7, 13 are scored by recording whole seconds.

Test 06 Balance (Bal)

This test aims to assess the child’s ability to maintain balance on one or both feet, in a variety of positions, with eyes open and closed.  The items are scored by recording whole seconds.

Test 07 Proprioception: Force (Prop: F)

This test aims to assess the child’s proprioceptive ability to grade the amount of force exerted.  The examiner presents trial items/demos to ensure that the child understands the test. The Prop: F test items are scored 2, 1 or 0 or by recording two measures, on which a “difference” score will be calculated automatically during data analysis. 

08 Ocular Motor & Praxis (O:M&Pr)

This test aims to assess the child’s ability to coordinate head and eye movements. There are 4 main sections of the test: Ocular Pursuits, Ocular Praxis, Ocular Stabilization and Ocular Quick Localization with a total of 30 items. If a child wears glasses throughout their day, they are kept on during this test, unless the examiner feels that the frames or lenses are impeding the child’s ability to perform the items or the ability to see the child’s eye movements. The examiner presents trial items/demos for each item and uses the trials to ensure that the child understands the test. The O: M & Pr test items are scored 2, 1 or 0.

09 Praxis: Sequences (Pr:S)

The Praxis Sequences test (Pr:S) measures the child’s ability to imitate a series of actions demonstrated by the examiner in three sections, namely BODY, HANDS and FACE. The only material needed for this test is the examiner test sheet (see appendix: 07 Praxis: Sequences Pr:S)

10 Bilateral Integration (BI)

This test aims to assess the child’s ability to coordinate movements with both sides of the body, with items for both upper and lower extremities, as well as total body.  Some of the items are based on observations that Ayres originally referred to as “Clinical Observations”, such as finger to nose touching, diadokokinesis, and finger touching.  Ayres adapted these traditional neurological observations to gain qualitative information on functions such as bilateral integration.  Thus, these items have been developed as standardized test items with a focus on assessing smoothness of movement and integration of both sides of the body. The examiner presents trial items/demos for each item and uses the trials to ensure that the child understands the test. The BI test items are scored 2, 1 or 0. There are no materials for this test, other than the examiner test sheet (see appendix, 09 Bilateral Integration BI); a stopwatch may facilitate practice of the timing of the movements.

11 Praxis: Following Directions (Pr:FD)

The Praxis Following Directions Test (Pr:FD) measures the child’s ability to perform a series of actions spoken by the examiner in three sections, namely BODY, HANDS and FACE.

Test 12 Vestibular: Nystagmus (V:N)

This test measures the duration of a normal vestibular reflex (nystagmus) following rotation. There are 6 items on this test, and each is scored by recording the duration of the reflex in seconds. The items of this test may be administered at any time during the test session (i.e. the three sets of rotations do not need to be administered in succession. However, they should not be administered immediately prior to the Postural Control & Balance Test.)  For INDC, the recommended sequence of administration is shown in Chapter 3.   If a child wears glasses, they are removed during this test, so that the nystagmus response is not magnified by the lenses.

13 Visual Praxis: Construction (VPr:C)

This test assesses the child’s ability to visually perceive attributes of objects needed to plan actions and to construct, in time and space, with those objects.  Items are scored for accuracy and some items are timed. There are three types of tasks on this test (tearing and folding paper, puzzle items and “Make a Silly Building” items)

14 Proprioception: Joint Position (Prop: JP)

This test aims to assess the child’s ability to replicate joint positions. The Prop: JP test items are scored by recording the number of cm of difference between the child’s joint positions, measured by comparing placement from one time to the next, or between two hands. 

15 Auditory: Localization (A:L)

This test assesses the child’s ability to localize sounds presented out of the child’s line of vision.  The test items are scored as 1, 0 for accuracy in identifying the correct location of the sound.  In addition, signs of hyper and hypo auditory sensory reactivity are also scored.

16 Tactile Perception: Localization (TP:L)

This test measures the ability to perceive the location of one or two tactile stimuli applied to fingers, hands, or forearms., in pronated and supinated positions, with vision occluded, using about 1 ounce (30gm) of pressure. The child’s responses are score for accuracy, as well as for signs of hyper and hypo tactile sensory reactivity.

17 Tactile Perception: Designs(TP:D)

This test measures the ability to perceive and replicate a design drawn on the hand or forearm, in pronated and supinated positions, with vision occluded, using about 1 ounce (30gm) of pressure. The direction and order of lines drawn is indicated for the examiner, so that all children feel the drawing in the same way. The examiner draws what the child drew for later scoring for accuracy, as well as for signs of hyper and hypo tactile sensory reactivity.

18 Tactile Perception: Shapes (TP:S)

This test assesses the ability to match a shape felt in the preferred hand with shapes seen in Part 1; in Part 2 the test assesses the ability to match a shape felt in one hand with shapes felt among a set of shapes, with the other hand. The test items are scored as 1, 0 for accuracy in identifying the correct shape, and the time it takes for the child to respond is also recorded.  In addition, signs of hyper and hypo tactile sensory reactivity are also scored.

19 TactilePerception: Oral (TP:O)

This test assesses the ability to match a shape felt in the mouth to shapes seen on a response card. The test items are scored as 1, 0 for accuracy in identifying the correct shape.  In addition, signs of hyper and hypo tactile sensory reactivity are also scored.

20 Sensory Reactivity (SR)

This test assesses the tendency for a child to demonstrate hyper sensory reactivity to tactile, auditory, olfactory, and vestibular stimuli. Prior to administering this test, the examiner asks the parent (out of the child’s hearing range) if they child is likely to be bothered or affected by light touch to the face, recorded sounds, a variety of scents, or motion. The test sheet can be shown to the parent to explain the items more fully. If the parent reports a likelihood of any adverse reactions that might be expected or expresses any concerns about these types of stimuli, do not administer those items and leave the items blank (for missing data). 

Taken from EASI Manual 15 August 2018