Turkish Adaptation and Psychometric Properties of the Standardized Infant Neurodevelopmental Assessment Neurological Scale in Turkish At-Risk Infants

Background: Early identification and intervention of neurodevelopmental delays can significantly improve outcomes for infants. Therefore, having a standardized assessment tool is essential for clinicians and healthcare professionals working in this field. Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the concurrent validity and reliability of the Turkish adaptation of the Standardized Infant Neurodevelopmental Assessment (SINDA) neurological scale. Methods: In the study, 111 infants (46 females) participated. Construct validity for the SINDA neurological scale was determined through confirmatory factor analysis, while concurrent validity was established by examining the correlation between the SINDA neurological scale and the Alberta Infant Motor Scale and the Hammersmith Infant Neurological Examination using Spearman's correlation analysis. Additionally, the test-retest reliability of the SINDA scale was examined, and the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was calculated. Results: Construct validity (RMSEA = 0.050; GFI = 0.93) and concurrent validity (r = 0.19 - 0.78; p < 0.05) of the SINDA neurological scale were acceptable. Confirmatory factor analysis results supported the six-factor structure of the original scale. High Cronbach’s alpha and ICC values were found (Cronbach’s α 0.74 - 0.81, ICC 0.991-0.997). Additionally, we found low to high positive correlations of SINDA with HINE and AIMS. Conclusions: The SINDA neurological scale exhibits strong psychometric qualities, making it a reliable and valid instrument for evaluating the neurodevelopmental aspects of at-risk Turkish infants. This has important implications for clinical practice, as early identification and intervention of neurodevelopmental delays can significantly improve outcomes for infants.