AUTHOR=Hochstrasser Céline , Rieder Sarah , Jufer-Riedi Ursina , Klein Marie-Noëlle , Feinstein Anthony , Banwell Brenda L. , Steiner Michelle , Cao Li Mei , Lidzba Karen , Bigi Sandra 

TITLE=Computerized Symbol Digit Modalities Test in a Swiss Pediatric Cohort Part 1: Validation

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Psychology

VOLUME=Volume 12 - 2021

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.631536

DOI=10.3389/fpsyg.2021.631536

ISSN=1664-1078

ABSTRACT=Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the computerized Symbol Digit Modalities Test (c-SDMT) in a Swiss pediatric cohort and to establish a comparability of norms by observing sex effects, age-effects, and test–retest reliability in comparison to values obtained for the paper and pencil version of the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT). 
Methods: This longitudinal observational study was conducted in a single-center setting at the University Children's Hospital of Bern. Our cohort consisted of 86 children (45 male and 41 female) aged from 8 to 16 years. The cohort included both healthy participants (n = 38) and patients (n = 48) hospitalized for a non-neurological disease.  Fortyeight participants were assessed during two testing sessions with the SDMT and the c-SDMT.
Results: Test–retest reliability was high in both tests (SDMT: ICC = 0.89, c-SDMT: ICC = 0.90). A reliable change index was calculated for the SDMT (RCIp = −3.18, 14.01) and the c-SDMT (RCIp = −5.45, 1.46) corrected for practice effects. While a significant age effect on information processing speed was observed, no such effect was found for sex. When data on the c-SDMT performance of the Swiss cohort was compared with that from a Canadian cohort, no significant difference was found for the mean time per trial in any age group. Norm values for age groups between 8 and 16 years in the Swiss cohort were established. 
Conclusions: Norms for the c-SDMT between the Swiss and the Canadian cohort were comparable. The c-SDMT is a valid alternative to the SDMT. It is a feasible and easy to administer bedside tool due to high reliability and the lack of motor demands.