Best practices for discharge summary writing
Summary
Understand how the Peabody assessment evaluates fine and gross motor skills in children from birth through 5 years, 11 months.
Learn how the Peabody Developmental Motor Scales are structured, including five core subtests and a supplemental physical fitness subtest.
Use basal, ceiling, and entry point rules to accurately administer and score the assessment.
Apply online scoring tools to generate standard scores, percentile ranks, and motor index scores for intervention planning.
Integrate results into a comprehensive evaluation to identify delays, guide treatment goals, and track developmental progress.
Occupational therapists use many assessment tools, and the Peabody Developmental Motor Scales-3 (PDMS-3) is one Peabody assessment that is commonly used to assess a child’s motor skills.
This article will discuss motor scales in general and provide specific details about the PDMS-3.
What is a motor scale?
A motor scale is a standardized assessment tool used by motor clinicians, such as occupational and physical therapists, to evaluate motor function and performance. Motor scales help determine a person's level of impairment and measure progress over time. These assessments often involve observing specific tasks, rating performance on a scale, and assigning a score.
Motor scales can establish a baseline, measure progress, justify services, or determine readiness for discharge. However, it is recommended that standardized motor scales not be used in isolation but as part of a comprehensive functional evaluation.
The Peabody Developmental Motor Scales-3 (PDMS-3)
The PDMS-3 is a pediatric motor scale that assesses fine and gross motor skills in children. The Peabody assessment is a standardized, norm-referenced assessment designed for children aged 0 to 5 years, 11 months. Knowing the Peabody age range helps clinicians determine the entry point for assessment.
Originally developed in the 1980s, the Peabody Developmental Motor Scales were recently updated in May 2023, using a new sample of 1,400 children. The update includes online scoring with report-writing capabilities, improved assessment features, and a supplemental core test addressing concerns related to childhood obesity and fitness. Additionally, the PDMS-3 provides remediation strategies for fine and gross motor skills.
Clinicians widely use this tool to identify delays, plan interventions, and track progress. It establishes a baseline for a child’s motor skills and can facilitate research on motor development, including the effectiveness of motor programs and interventions.
Since the release of the PDMS-3 in 2023, the previous version (PDMS-2) should no longer be used.
PDMS-3 categories
Clinicians use the Peabody assessment to evaluate fine and gross motor skills. The PDMS-3 is divided into two main categories: fine motor and gross motor.
It includes five core subtests and a supplemental physical fitness subtest:
Core subtests
Body control (gross motor): Measures a child’s ability to maintain balance and posture
Body transport (gross motor): Assesses a child’s ability to move from one place to another
Object control (gross motor, 16 months and older): Evaluates a child's ability to coordinate body movements (e.g., catching or throwing a ball)
Hand manipulation (fine motor): Measures a child’s ability to use their hands to manipulate objects
Eye-hand coordination (fine motor): Assesses a child’s ability to coordinate vision with hand movements
Supplemental subtest
Physical fitness: Evaluates a child’s ability to run (running speed) and perform tasks such as jumping jacks, push-ups, and sit-ups
PDMS-3 administration
The PDMS-3 typically takes 40 to 90 minutes to administer. Not all subtests need to be given, and they can be administered in any order.
It is acceptable for different professionals to assess different sections; for example, a physical therapist may administer the gross motor subtests while an occupational therapist administers the fine motor subtests.
The assessment can be completed over multiple days and does not need to be done in a single session.
Key considerations for administration
When conducting a Peabody assessment, establishing rapport and a quiet environment is essential to obtain accurate results.
Establishing rapport: Assessments can be stressful for young children. Building rapport is essential to obtain representative scores.
Materials: The PDMS-3 requires specific materials for proper administration. These are included in the testing kit.
Environment: A quiet, distraction-free setting helps maintain the child’s attention and focus. Allowing the child time to adjust to the testing environment before beginning can be beneficial.
Observation skills: Clinicians must use their expertise to accurately observe the child’s skills for proper scoring.
The PDMS-3 uses basal and ceiling levels to determine scoring.
Basal level: Achieved when a child scores full credit on three consecutive items
Ceiling level: Reached when a child scores 0 on three consecutive items
Entry point: Determined by the child’s chronological age or physical ability
Virtual administration
A Peabody assessment can be modified for virtual use with careful planning. However, modifications and adjustments are required.
Considerations such as environment, materials, and verbal instructions are crucial when administering the test remotely.
Additional notes regarding the virtual administration process should be documented, and clinicians should follow all guidelines outlined in the testing manual.
How the Peabody assessment is scored
The online scoring tool is now required for scoring the PDMS-3, as manual scoring is no longer an option. Access to this tool is included with the purchase of the testing kit.
The online tool generates three types of scores:
Standard scores
Percentile ranks
Descriptive terms
There are also three different index scores:
Gross Motor Index: Combines gross motor subtest scores
Fine Motor Index: Combines fine motor subtest scores
Total Motor Index: A composite of both fine and gross motor scores
Conclusion
The Peabody Developmental Motor Scales-3 is a comprehensive, standardized, norm-referenced early intervention assessment tool. The 2023 update reflects current child development expectations and enhances the assessment's flexibility for diverse populations, including children with disabilities. Integrating online scoring and report writing streamlines the evaluation process, making it more efficient.
However, there are some drawbacks. The PDMS-3 can be time-consuming and labor-intensive, especially if all subtests are administered. Additionally, while cultural considerations were applied, some tasks may not be universally relevant across all populations.
The Peabody assessment remains an essential tool for occupational therapists and other clinicians to identify motor skill delays, plan interventions, and track developmental progress.
Sources
Folio MR, Fewell RR. (2023). PDMS-3: Peabody Developmental Motor Scales–Third Edition, Complete Kit.
Pearson Assessments. (2022). Folio, M., Fewell, R. PDMS-3 Online Scoring and Report System Detailed Narrative Report.
Pearson Clinical Assessment. (2023). Folio, M., Fewell, R. Peabody Developmental Motor Scales, Third Edition.
Mind Resources. (2023). Folio, M., Fewell, R. Guide to Administering the PDMS-3
Occupational Odyssey. (2023). SHARPEN YOUR CLINICAL SKILLS! (Intro to the PDMS-3)
Phys Occup Ther Pediatr. (1989). Hinderer, K, Richardson, P., Atwater,S.. Clinical implication of the peabody developmental motor scales: a constructive review. 9(2):81-106. PMID: 15772027.
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