Behavioural Assessment of the Dysexecutive Syndrome in Children (BADS-C)*

Behavioural Assessment of the Dysexecutive Syndrome in Children (BADS-C) Hazel Emslie, F Colin Wilson, Vivian Burden, Ian Nimmo-Smith and Barbara A Wilson

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  Age Range: 8 to 16 years


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  Administration: Individual – 35 to 45 minutes


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  Assist in early identification of deficits in executive functioning in children

Deficits in executive functioning are well documented in children and adolescents with neuro-developmental disorders such as Attention Deficit (AD), Pervasive Development Disorder (PDD) and those with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Recently there has been a rapid increase in the number of children diagnosed as suffering from developmental disorders associated with impaired executive function and self-regulation.

Many children with poor executive skills go on to experience weak social relationships, problems with communication skills, behavioural and learning difficulties, together with low self esteem. Since the effects of the dysexecutive syndrome (DES) are likely to become more marked with age as children have to cope with greater complexity in their educational, social and emotional life, early identification of DES is crucial.

Why do we need a new test of executive function?

Until the publication of the BADS-C, accurate and reliable identification has been hampered by the lack of developmentally sensitive assessment tools. Most traditional tests for children are insensitive to executive dysfunction and \”accurate and reliable identification of such deficits has been limited due to lack of developmentally appropriate assessment tools\” (Anderson, 1998).

The authors have been convinced that the basis for an ecologically valid and reliable test of executive functioning in children lay in five of the tests from the Behavioural Assessment of the Dysexecutive Syndrome (BADS) (Wilson et al., 1996). By simplifying the language, reducing the verbal content of the instructions, adapting or substituting test materials and recruiting a large representative sample of children we have produced a test with standardized ‘child friendly’ administration and standardized scoring procedures with comprehensive norms.

BADS-C examines a number of aspects of the DES such as inflexibility and perseveration, novel problem solving, impulsivity, planning, the ability to utilise feedback and moderate one\’s behaviour accordingly.

Complete kit: Includes manual, 25 scoring sheets, stimulus cards, three-dimensional plastic materials, timer, 25 DEX-C independent rater questionnaires, beads, nuts, bolts and washers