Several outcome tools have been developed to measure physical functioning in pediatric orthopedic patients. One such tool, the Activities Scale for Kids (ASK), allows assessment of physical functioning in the community in 5-to 15-year-olds. Previous validation of the ASK showed a significant difference in scores according to global ratings of disability. In this study, the ASK was administered to children without musculoskeletal disability to determine how normal respondents scored. ASK questionnaires were distributed to 137 children and 122 (89%) were returned. Normal children scored quite high, with a mean summary score of 93.12 (SD 6.45). This score differs significantly from the mean summary score for children with mild disabilities as determined in previous studies of disability (P = 0.005). / Study conducted at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Universityof Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. / Dr. Plint is supported in part by a Junior Clinical Investigator Award from the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute.

The purpose of the study was five-fold: (1) to discover what criteria have been set up by recognized authorities for teaching dull-normal children; (2) to determine the interests and needs of the dull-normal children under consideration; (3) to determine their vocabulary range; (4) to produce interesting, easy reading material for them and to determine their response to the reading material produced, based upon their activities and interests; and (5) to recommend a reading program for the dull-normal children in the Memphis, Texas, public school in the future.