Changes in Sensorimotor Performance of Infants Aged 2 to 15 Months Assessed with ECDSM2-15 According to Sex and Diagnosis: A Quasi-Experimental Study

Abstract

Introduction: The ECDSM2-15 scale, which contains six subscales by age range, assesses the quality of sensorimotor performance in infants aged 2-15 months with motor developmental delay (MDD) or cerebral palsy (CP), observing the strategies that the infant develops in response to functional de- mands. It classifies the level of performance as atypical, mild atypical, delay with risk of atypicality, delay, and typical. Although it has proven to be sensi- tive to variations in short follow-up periods, it has not been explored whether the ECDSM2-15 detects differentiated changes in sensorimotor performance according to sex and diagnosis. The objective is to identify changes in the level of sensorimotor performance in infants assessed with the ECDSM2-15 according to sex and diagnosis. Material or Patients and Methods: A purpo- sive sample of 371 infants of both sexes aged 2-15 months, with MDD or CP. Each infant was administered the corresponding subscale twice, with a 6-week interval. The assumption of normality was tested using the Shapiro-Wilks test, summary measures, and Wilcoxon test with p < 0.05. Results: Statistically significant changes were observed in sensorimotor performance levels across all subscales, according to sex and diagnosis. Conclusion: The ECDSM2-15, across its six subscales, demonstrates sensitivity in both infants with RD and CP, regardless of sex. Its high sensitivity remains, supporting its usefulness as an assessment tool in clinical and research settings for these populations.