The pediatric early elementary examination: Sensitivity and specificity

Evaluated the sensitivity and specificity of the Pediatric Early Elementary Examination (PEEX), a test designed to identify children at risk for learning problems. Using a sample 0f 299 seven- to nine-year-old "disadvantaged" children, the number of "areas of concern" identified by the PEEX and a school record indicating whether a child was receiving special educational services were used to compute test sensitivity and specificity. For two areas of concern, the sensitivity was 76.9% and specificity was 59.9%. The find ings indicate that the PEEX correctly identified only 64.3% of children receiving special educational services. The test has a high rate of false posi tives while stilifailing to identify 6-7.5% of the children receiving special edu cation services. Other issues relating to the utility of the PEEX are discussed.