PDMS-3 Peabody Developmental Motor Scales – Third Edition: Complete Kit

For ages: Birth through 5 years, 11 months
Testing Time: 60–90 Minutes
Administration: Individual
Scoring: Online only

The Peabody Developmental Motor Scales–Third Edition (PDMS-3) is an early childhood motor development program that provides both in-depth assessment and training or remediation of gross and fine motor skills. The assessment measures interrelated motor abilities that develop early in life. The PDMS-3 can be used by occupational therapists, physical therapists, diagnosticians, early intervention specialists, adapted physical education teachers, psychologists, and others who are interested in examining the motor abilities of young children.

The PDMS-3 has five core subtests and one supplemental subtest:

Core Subtests:

• Body Control – This subtest measures the ability to move the limbs and trunk, postural reactions, standing, bending, extending, stooping, balancing, and jumping upward. It is an estimate of the child's ability to sustain control of his or her body within its center of gravity and retain equilibrium
• Body Transport – This subtest measures the ability to make movements that propel the child from one location to another, such as rolling, crawling, creeping, walking, running, jumping forward and sideward, sliding, hopping, and skipping
• Object Control – This subtest measures the ability to coordinate motor movements that require the incorporation of perception and movement, such as throwing, catching, bouncing, and kicking a ball
• Hand Manipulation – This subtest measures the ability to move the hands and fingers (and arms as appropriate) to complete tasks and measure dexterity. This includes manipulation of objects such as blocks, cups, and drawing instruments
• Eye-Hand Coordination – This subtest measures the ability to interpret visual stimuli in coordination with hand-finger movements. It is an estimate of the child's ability to integrate and use his or her visual perceptual skills to perform complex eye-hand coordination tasks

Supplemental Subtest:

• Physical Fitness – This supplemental subtest measures the ability to perform activities like push-ups, sit ups, repetitive jumps, running speed, throwing for distance, and sit and reach/flexibility

Composites:

The PDMS-3 has three composites. These composites are derived from combining the results of the subtests to achieve stronger and better indices of performance. The scores of these composites are more reliable and valid than the subtests.

• Gross Motor Index – This composite is a combination of the results of the Body Control, Body Transport, and Object Control (children 16 months and older) subtests, which measure the use of the large muscle systems. This index score represents the child's ability to use the large muscle systems to react to environmental changes, assume a stable posture when not moving, move from place to place, and catch, throw, and kick balls
• Fine Motor Index – This composite is a combination of the results of the Hand Manipulation and Eye-Hand Coordination subtests, which measure the use of the small muscle systems. This index score represents the child's ability to use his or her fingers, hands, and, to some extent, arms to grasp objects, stack blocks, draw figures, and manipulate objects
• Total Motor Index – This composite is formed by a combination of the results of the gross and fine motor core subtests. Because of this, it is the best estimate of overall motor abilities

Normative Scores:

Access to the new PDMS-3 Online Scoring and Report System is now included with the purchase of each PDMS-3 Complete Kit and with the purchase of every replacement pack of Examiner Record Booklets and Supplemental Subtest Booklets. This scoring and report system is a quick, efficient tool for:

(a) Generating materials (blackline masters, lined paper) needed for administration

(b) Entering test session data

(c) Converting subtest item scores or total raw scores into scaled scores

(d) Generating composite index scores, percentile ranks, and upper and lower confidence intervals

(e) Comparing PDMS-3 performances to identify significant intra-individual differences

(f) Obtaining a score summary or narrative report

(g) Generating treatment goals and objectives based on the item performance of the child

The PDMS-3 Online Scoring and Report System yields four types of normative scores:

1. Age Equivalents – Indexes of relative standing that translate subtest raw scores into motor ages
2. Percentile Ranks – Provide the examiner with an index that is easily understood by parents and others with whom the test results are to be shared
3. Subtest Scaled Scores – Based on a distribution having a mean of 10 and a standard deviation of 3
4. Composite Index Scores – Based on a distribution having a mean of 100 and a standard deviation of 15

COMPLETE PDMS-3 KIT INCLUDES: 

• Examiner's Manual
• Guide to Item Administration
• Motor Activities Program
• Object Kit, Stimulus Cards
• 6 in. x 6 in. Paper Pads
• 25 Examiner Record Booklets
• 25 Supplemental Subtest Booklets
• Scoring Transparency
• Peabody Motor Development Chart
• 25 Peabody Motor Development Parent Charts
• Access to the Online Scoring and Report System
• All contained in a sturdy storage box