Internal consistency of three tests from the Halstead-Reitan Neuropsychological Battery for Older Children

The internal consistency of three neuropsychological tests was examined in a sample of 334 referred children (9-14 years of age). Coefficient alpha was calculated to estimate reliability on the Seashore Rhythm Test (SRT), two forms of the Speech Sounds Perception Test (SSPT), and the Aphasia Screening Test (AST). The standard SSPT appears to have relatively good internal consistency with an average coefficient of .81. The average coefficient for the abbreviated form of the SSPT was considerably lower (i.e., .73), highlighting the superiority of the standard form in clinical practice. Internal consistency of the SRT was relatively low (i.e., .67). This level of reliability may be acceptable in group research and for component tests, but is marginal for independent clinical use. Coefficient alpha for the AST was moderate (i.e., .77), suggesting adequate reliability for a screening test. These reliability estimates are compared to those obtained in previous studies using these tests in adult samples and with other tests commonly used with children.