Vanessa Madaschi

Mackenzie Presbitirian University, Brazil

Title: Translation, Cross-Cultural Adaptation, and Pilot Study of the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, Fourth Edition, for Brazilian Portuguese

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Biography

Vanessa Madaschi is an occupational therapist with extensive academic training in rehabilitation and developmental disorders. She graduated in Occupational Therapy from the Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar) in 1996 and completed a residency in Physical Rehabilitation in 1997. She subsequently earned a Master’s degree in Developmental Disorders in 2012 and a PhD in Developmental Disorders in 2021 from Mackenzie Presbyterian University. Her academic and professional background reflects a strong focus on occupational therapy, physical rehabilitation, and developmental disorders.

Abstract

Background: Early identification of developmental differences requires assessment tools that are linguistically, culturally, and conceptually appropriate for the populations in which they are used. The *Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development*, Fourth Edition (Bayley-4), is a comprehensive assessment of early childhood development, covering cognitive, language, motor, social-emotional, and adaptive behavior domains. Building upon previous Brazilian research involving the translation, cross-cultural adaptation, and psychometric investigation of the Bayley-III, this study addresses the linguistic and cultural adaptation of the updated fourth edition. Although developmental assessment using the Bayley scales has a history of use in Brazil, the fourth edition requires a specific translation and cross-cultural adaptation process to ensure conceptual and cultural equivalence for Brazilian Portuguese-speaking populations. 

Objective: To translate and cross-culturally adapt the Bayley-4 for Brazilian Portuguese and to evaluate the comprehensibility, feasibility, and applicability of the adapted version through a pilot study. 

Methods: This methodological study comprises sequential stages of translation, cross-cultural adaptation, expert committee review, and pilot testing. The translation process includes independent forward translations, synthesis of the translated versions, back-translation, and comparison with the original instrument. A committee of three experts with experience in child development and developmental assessment will evaluate semantic, idiomatic, conceptual, experiential, and cultural equivalence, identifying items requiring revision. Following the expert review, a pilot study will be conducted with 20 typically developing children recruited from private clinics, distributed across the Bayley-4 age range. The instrument will be administered by the principal investigator and trained researchers. Difficulties related to instructions, comprehension, materials, cultural appropriateness, and applicability will be systematically recorded and analyzed to inform the refinement of the preliminary Brazilian Portuguese version. 

Results: The translation and cross-cultural adaptation process will yield a preliminary Brazilian Portuguese version of the Bayley-4, following a systematic review of linguistic and cultural equivalence. Expert review and pilot testing will identify items requiring linguistic, conceptual, or cultural refinement and provide preliminary evidence regarding the comprehensibility, feasibility, and applicability of the adapted instrument across its entire age range. Final adaptations and pilot study results will be presented at the conference and will inform the subsequent psychometric evaluation of the Brazilian Portuguese version. 

Conclusion: The translation and cross-cultural adaptation of the Bayley-4 represent a significant step toward expanding access to culturally appropriate developmental assessments in Brazil. A methodologically rigorous adaptation can strengthen early developmental assessment and support the evidence-based identification of developmental differences among Brazilian children. The resulting preliminary version will serve as a foundation for subsequent studies investigating reliability, validity, measurement properties, and applicability in representative Brazilian populations.