Health Information

Hong Kong Comprehensive Assessment Scales for Preschool Children (HKCAS-P)


Photo of the HKDESS research team

The HKCAS-P research team

The Department of Health launched the first-ever locally developed comprehensive diagnostic instrument for Hong Kong preschool children.

The Department of Health launched the first-ever locally developed comprehensive diagnostic instrument for Hong Kong preschool children.

The Hong Kong Comprehensive Assessment Scales for Preschool Children

The Hong Kong Comprehensive Assessment Scales for Preschool Children

The Hong Kong Comprehensive Assessment Scales for Preschool Children (HKCAS-P) was published on 18 August 2014 by Child Assessment Service (CAS), Department of Health. This is the first locally developed, validated and standardized comprehensive diagnostic instrument for preschool children who are suspected to have developmental problems.

To better cater for the needs of local Cantonese-speaking preschool children, the multi-disciplinary team of CAS, together with senior academic scholars including Professor Cynthia Leung of the Department of Applied Social Sciences of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University; Professor Lo Sing-kai, Chair Professor of Social Research of the Hong Kong Institute of Education; and Dr. Anita Wong, Associate Professor of the Division of Speech and Hearing Sciences at the Faculty of Education of the University of Hong Kong have, since 2009, conducted research and development of the HKCAS-P.

The HKCAS-P enables accurate assessment of a wide range of preschool children's functions, including their cognition, language, social cognition, fine and gross motor functions, perceptual function and ability, as well as their literacy and numeracy skills. There are a number of novel elements, including tests on children's Cantonese oral language ability and direct assessment of children on their social cognitive skills with reference to local culture. The assessment results will help professionals to make referral for treatment, training or educational placement, monitor progress and evaluate treatment outcome for the children.

The HKCAS-P was designed for use by clinicians including developmental-behavioural paediatricians, and clinical or educational psychologists working in clinics and preschool settings with preschool children.

Eligible HKCAS-P users must first attend two full day training workshop run by CAS. The training workshops will be organized for professionals regularly in response to the demand. The HKCAS-P is sold to eligible users at HK$8230 per set. Interested professionals may contact us at 2246 6659 for enquiries.