Diagnostic Accuracy of a Universal Behavior Screener for Identification of Attention Problems in First Grade

Abstract

Teacher-rated inattention predicts reading outcomes, and children with both reading and elevated inattention may require special intervention. Therefore, screening of inattention seems warranted. It is examined whether teacher ratings on a universal behavior screener, the Social Emotional Academic Behavior Rating Scale (SAEBRS), has a similar diagnostic accuracy to the ADHD-IV-Rating Scale, Inattention Scale for 1st grade students (n = 273). The SAEBRS-Total Behavior (SAEBRS-TB) and SAEBRS-Academic Behavior (SAEBRS-AB) scores were utilized for this study. Based on a receiver operator characteristic analysis, the SAEBRS-TB and SAEBRS-AB yielded high diagnostic accuracy. A SAEBRS-TB cut score of 40 yielded acceptable sensitivity and specificity, and a SAEBRS-AB cut score of 11 yielded optimal sensitivity and acceptable specificity. Therefore, the SAEBRS appears to be an accurate method to screen for children who are at-risk for elevated inattention.