Abstract: Objective To explore the parallel validity of Alberta infant motor scale (AIMS) and Peabody developmental motor scale-2 (PDMS-2) in assessing motor function of high risk infants. Methods 60 high risk infants, aged from 1 month to 9 months, were assessed by both the AIMS and PDMS-2. The total scores of AIMS and the total original scores of PDMS-2 gross motor scale (GMS) were compared by the Spearman's analysis. The AIMS's percentage and PDMS-2 gross motor quotient (GMQ) were compared with qualitative analysis by Kappa value. The examination time of the two scales was also compared. Results The correlation coefficient of the total scores of AIMS and the original scores of GMS was 0.91 (P<0.001). The correlation coefficient of AIMS's percentage and GMQ was 0.6. The mean time of AIMS was (10.47±3.63) min, and that of PDMS-2 was (26.5±7.77) min for examination (t=28.895, P<0.001). Conclusion AIMS and PDMS-2 are in a high level of consistency when assessing the motor function of 1-month-old to 9-month-old high risk infants.

Key words: infant, high risk, Alberta Infant Motor Scale, Peabody Developmental Motor Scale-2, consistency