Peabody Developmental Motor Scales, Third Edition

The Peabody Developmental Motor Scales, Third Edition (PDMS- 3) provides both in-depth assessment and remediation of gross and fine motor skills. The assessment measures interrelated motor abilities that develop early in life.

The PDMS 3 has five core subtests and one supplemental subtest.

Core Subtests

• Body Control
• Body Transport
• Object Control
• Hand Manipulation
• Eye-Hand Coordination

Supplemental Subtest

• Physical Fitness

Features

The PDMS 3 has several enhancements from the previous edition:

• The subtests of the PDMS-3 were renamed to reflect a better understanding of the skills required by the items.
• The addition of the supplemental Physical Fitness subtest reflects the current literature’s interest in overweight, obesity, and fitness testing of preschool children.
• Examiner Record Booklets now contain complete administration and scoring instructions, allowing administration of the test without using the Examiner’s Manual.
• The kit now includes a Scoring Transparency containing images of a protractor and ruler to aid examiners in scoring.
• The revised Illustrated Guide to Item Administration includes many replaced and updated illustrations.
• The Motor Activities Program was revised to be more user friendly. It contains units organized developmentally by skill area to facilitate the child's development in areas assessed as requiring intervention.
• The manipulative kit includes most of the manipulatives needed for testing to better ensure the standardized administration of items.
• Updated Peabody Motor Development Chart
• Norms are based on a sample of 1,452 children who were tested from Spring of 2016 through Spring of 2021.
• Standardized scores and corresponding narrative are obtained via the PDMS-3 Online Scoring and Report System.

Sample Reports

• PDMS-3 Standard Summary Report
• PDMS-3 Detailed Narrative Report

What changes have been made to Item 36 on the Eye-Hand Coordination subtest?

Since publication of the PDMS-3, the test developers received feedback that the time limit was difficult even for children who don’t have a problem with that skill. As a result, the time allowance has been revised to the following:

2 - Places all 8 pegs in board in 18 seconds.
1 - Places all 8 pegs in board in 19-20 seconds.
0 - Places all 8 pegs in board in 21 or more seconds

Additionally, children are allowed to use two hands to complete this task without any penalty.

Where are the norm tables?

There are no tables in the PDMS-3 manual – all scores are calculated using the online scoring system.

How do I access the online scoring system? Do I need to set up an account?

Yes. Each test user will need an account. Organizations/clinics can set up a single account and add as many examiners and administrators as they need. The activation code needed to access the online scoring will be printed on the PDMS-3 Examiner Record Booklets and Supplemental Subtest Booklets. Information on setting up a new account can be found on page 19 of the PDMS-3 Examiner’s Manual.

Is there a fee to access the online scoring system?

There are no additional subscription or access fees for the online scoring system. Each pack of record booklets comes with an activation code - this provides access to the online scoring without any further sign-up or annual fees.

Will I be able to edit the online report (i.e. will it generate as an editable document)?

Yes. The Detailed Narrative Report will be available as a Word document and as a PDF.

Who do I contact if I have a problem with the online scoring system?

For support with the online scoring system please email testquestion@proedinc.com

How was the impact of COVID-19 analyzed/accounted for in relation to the normative data? 

The majority of the PDMS-3 normative sample was collected prior to the pandemic, but the raw score means of the data collected during the pandemic were compared to the raw score means of the data collected prior to the pandemic and found to be very similar.

I don’t usually administer the test in its entirety – can I still generate a report if not all subtests are completed?

Yes - the online program will print out a partial report if you are only administering the one section.

Does the supplemental Physical Fitness subtest require its own activation code since it’s in a separate booklet?

Yes - the Physical Fitness subtest is a separate activation code that you will set up on your account. When you log in, click on ACTIVATION CODES and load the code in there.

Where are the blackline masters?

The blackline masters and lined paper are not included in the kit in hard copy form. You can print off your own copies from the online scoring system.

If I only use the fine motor tests, does that use up a full administration? Or is the gross motor test still available then for a different child?

Just as you would use one paper record form per child, you will consume an online report usage for each child – you cannot split administrations between two different children.

Do you use up a full report if you only do 1 subtest?

Yes. The report usage is deducted at the time you set up the test in the online system. However, you may go back and add further data to the same report if you subsequently administer other subtests.

If an OT uses the fine motor section and a PT uses the gross motor section and scores at different times on the same student, does the scoring system allow for this?

Yes. The record form is set up to allow different testing dates for gross motor and fine motor sections. The scores do not have to be entered at the same time.

Complimentary assessment overviews and training

Learn more about PDMS-3 and how to use it with fidelity.

Whether you’ve purchased this assessment or need additional information to help make your purchase decision, we’ve got complimentary on-demand, introductory training to help guide you.

Register for Brainshark to access the brief assessment overview, including a description of the components, types of scores provided, and applicable clinical populations.