Are Developmentally At Risky Babies Environmentally Disadvantaged?

Assessment of Home Environment Supporting Motor Development - Infant Scale (AHEMD-IS):

The AHEMD-SR, developed in 2005, evaluates the home environment of children aged 18-42 months. Recently, the 3-18 month version (AHEMD-IS) was validated to assess the quality and quantity of motor development opportunities at home. The scale has 41 items across four domains: Physical Space (indoor/outdoor), Variety of Stimulation, Gross Motor Toys, and Fine Motor Toys. Home environments are rated as excellent, adequate, moderate, or inadequate. For infants 3-11 months, 32 items are applicable; 12-18 months respond to all items. Responses include yes/no (0/1) and frequency scales from never (0) to always (3). Maximum scores are 66 for under 12 months and 93 for older infants; higher scores indicate better environmental enrichment. Turkish validity and reliability were confirmed with Cronbach's alpha of 0.846 and ICC of 0.830. Author permission was obtained.

Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS):

AIMS is a standardized tool assessing gross motor development from birth to independent walking (up to 18 months). It identifies motor delays, monitors progress pre- and post-intervention, and evaluates rehabilitation effectiveness. Infants are observed in four positions: prone, supine, sitting, and standing. Movements related to weight-bearing, posture, and antigravity are scored. Each observed movement scores 1, unobserved 0, focusing on the "developmental window" of the two most mature movements. Scores per position are summed for a raw score, converted to age-based percentiles to assess motor level. Assessment takes 20-30 minutes, ideally with caregiver present for infant comfort. AIMS is widely used to profile infant motor development.

Sensory Profile Assessment:

The Toddler Sensory Profile-2 (7-35 months) is a parent-report questionnaire designed to evaluate sensory processing in infants. It consists of 54 items and takes approximately 15 minutes to complete. In this study, it will be applied to infants aged 7-18 months. Parents rate the frequency of their child's responses to various sensory experiences on a 5-point scale: Almost Always (5), Often (4), Sometimes (3), Rarely (2), Almost Never (1), with an additional "Not Applicable" option. Total raw scores are classified using normative curves and sensory classification as follows: (i) Much less than others (\<2%), (ii) Less than others (1-2 SD below mean), (iii) Similar to most (±1 SD), (iv) More than others (1-2 SD above mean), (v) Much more than others (\>98%).

Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development - Third Edition (Bayley-III):

Bayley-III is a reliable and valid tool for assessing cognitive, language, and motor development in children aged 0-42 months. It identifies developmental delays and aids intervention planning. The scale provides raw scores, standard scores, percentile ranks, and growth scores, detailing performance in subscales: Cognitive, Receptive and Expressive Communication, Fine Motor, and Gross Motor. Scoring awards 1 point for correct and 0 for incorrect responses. Developmental scores range from 200 to 800 (mean=500, SD=100). The test follows basal and ceiling rules for item administration. Assessment requires a quiet, well-lit environment, fostering a warm, trusting interaction. Materials are engaging and hygienically maintained. Bayley-III is widely used by multidisciplinary teams for diagnosis and research, especially in early intervention. The research team's certified examiner will conduct the assessment.