Barkley Deficits in Executive Functioning Scale--Children and Adolescents (BDEFS-CA)

Book excerpt: The Barkley Deficits in Executive Functioning Scale--Children and Adolescents (BDEFS-CA) is an empirically based tool for evaluating clinically significant dimensions of child and adolescent executive functioning. Evidence indicates that the BDEFS-CA is far more predictive of impairments in daily life activities than more time-consuming and costly traditional EF tests. The BDEFS-CA offers an ecologically valid snapshot of the capacities involved in time management, organization and problem solving, self-restraint, self-motivation, and self-regulation of emotions. Two parent-report forms are included: a long form (10-15 minutes) and a short form (3-5 minutes). There is also a short clinical interview form based on the short-form rating scale, for use in unusual circumstances where a parent is unable to complete a rating scale. Special features include an ADHD risk index in the long form. Complete instructions for scoring and interpreting the scale are provided. QUICK VIEW What does it do?: Provides an ecologically valid assessment of executive functioning deficits in daily life activities. Age Range: 6-17 Administration Time: Long Form: 10-15 minutes. Short Form: 3-5 minutes. Format: Parent-report rating scale. Cost of Additional Forms: No cost--purchasers get permission to reproduce the forms and score sheets for repeated use. See also the Barkley Deficits in Executive Functioning Scale (BDEFS for Adults) and Barkley's authoritative book on EF development and deficits, Executive Functions. Also available: Barkley Functional Impairment Scale--Children and Adolescents (BFIS-CA). Includes Permission to Photocopy Enhancing the convenience and value of the BDEFS-CA, the limited photocopy license allows purchasers to reproduce the forms and score sheets and yields considerable cost savings over other available scales. The large format and sturdy wire binding facilitate photocopying. Age range: 6-17.