Value and Limitations of Infant Tests: An Overview

The development of intelligence during infancy is impressive and measurable. The anthropometrist measures growth in head size, which reflects the growth of the brain. The neuropathologist measures cerebral DNA to estimate cell number and possible damage from malnutrition or other causes (Winick, 1970). The psychologist measures behavioral change by means of careful observations of responses to specific tasks. In this chapter we shall review critically infant tests and their contribution to the understanding of mental growth in the first months of life.