Children solving glowing puzzles in Indonesia, symbolizing cognitive development.

Is Your Child on Track? Why Cognitive Screening Matters

Kai Mendoza in Mind & Education August 2025 • 4 min read.

"A reliable Indonesian version of the SYSTEMS-R cognitive screening tool could help identify developmental delays early"

Developmental and behavioral issues are common among children, affecting 12-16% in the U.S. and 13-18% in Indonesia. Identifying these issues early is crucial, but it requires accurate screening tools. Cognitive function screening is increasingly used in clinical and educational settings to assess children's mental status.

The School-Years Screening Test for Evaluation of Mental Status-Revised (SYSTEMS-R) has become a popular, reliable, and valid tool for children aged 4-15. It helps identify potential cognitive issues that may affect a child's learning and development. To make this valuable tool more accessible, researchers have developed an Indonesian version of the SYSTEMS-R, adapting it to the local language and culture.

A study published in Paediatrica Indonesiana aimed to determine the reliability of this Indonesian translation. The goal was to ensure that the adapted version maintained the accuracy and consistency of the original SYSTEMS-R, providing a dependable cognitive screening tool for Indonesian children.

What is SYSTEMS-R and How Does It Work?

Children solving glowing puzzles in Indonesia, symbolizing cognitive development.

The original SYSTEMS-R is a cognitive screening tool designed for children aged 4 to 15 years. It is used to quickly assess various cognitive functions, including attention, memory, language, and problem-solving skills. The test consists of a series of tasks and questions that are age-appropriate, providing a comprehensive overview of a child's cognitive abilities.

To ensure its effectiveness, the SYSTEMS-R has been adapted and validated in several languages and cultural contexts. The Indonesian version maintains the core elements of the original test while incorporating culturally relevant content. This adaptation is crucial because direct translations of cognitive tests may not accurately reflect a child's abilities due to linguistic and cultural differences.

Adaptation: Adapting the SYSTEMS-R for Indonesian children involved more than just translating the words. Researchers carefully considered the cultural context to ensure the test remained relevant and accurate.
Language Nuances: Some words and proverbs in the original test were adapted to better suit the Indonesian language and culture. For example, some proverbs were changed to ensure they resonated with the local context.
Cultural Relevance: Cultural relevance is crucial for accurate cognitive assessment. By adapting the test to the Indonesian context, researchers aimed to reduce cultural bias and improve the test's ability to identify cognitive issues.

Researchers translated the SYSTEMS-R into Indonesian and then back-translated it to English to ensure accuracy. The Indonesian version was reviewed and evaluated by research advisors, including specialists in growth, development, social pediatrics, and pediatric neurology. The final version was approved for use in the reliability study, ensuring it met the necessary standards for cognitive assessment.

The Future of Cognitive Screening in Indonesia

The Indonesian version of the SYSTEMS-R shows promise as a reliable cognitive screening tool for children. Future research should focus on test-retest reliability and validity compared to gold-standard cognitive tests. This will confirm its effectiveness and ensure Indonesian children receive timely support for cognitive development.

About this Article -

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This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.14238/pi56.3.2016.149-54, Alternate LINK

Title: Reliability Of The Indonesian Version Of The School-Years Screening Test For Evaluation Of Mental Status-Revised As A Cognitive Screening Tool For Children

Subject: Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health

Journal: Paediatrica Indonesiana

Publisher: Paediatrica Indonesiana - Indonesian Pediatric Society

Authors: Ferriandis Harsono, Purboyo Solek, Kusnandi Rusmil

Published: 2016-07-01

Everything You Need To Know

What is the SYSTEMS-R, and what does it do?

The SYSTEMS-R is a cognitive screening tool designed for children between 4 and 15 years of age. It is used to evaluate a child's mental status, specifically assessing cognitive functions like attention, memory, language, and problem-solving skills. The tool employs a series of age-appropriate tasks and questions, providing a comprehensive overview of a child's cognitive abilities. The Indonesian version is an adaptation of the original, modified to be culturally and linguistically relevant to Indonesian children.

Why is early identification of developmental delays so important?

Early identification of developmental delays is crucial because it allows for timely intervention. Without early detection through tools like the SYSTEMS-R, children may not receive the support they need to overcome cognitive challenges, potentially impacting their learning and overall development. Addressing these issues early can lead to better outcomes for children, helping them reach their full potential.

Why is the Indonesian version of the SYSTEMS-R significant?

The Indonesian version of the SYSTEMS-R is significant because it makes the cognitive screening tool more accessible to Indonesian children. By adapting the SYSTEMS-R to the local language and culture, researchers ensured that the assessment accurately reflects the cognitive abilities of Indonesian children, minimizing cultural bias. This adaptation involved more than just translation; it also considered cultural nuances and relevance to ensure the test's effectiveness and reliability.

Why is cultural relevance important when using a cognitive screening tool?

Cultural relevance is crucial in cognitive assessment because it ensures that the test accurately measures a child's abilities. Direct translations of cognitive tests may not be suitable due to linguistic and cultural differences. Adapting the SYSTEMS-R to the Indonesian context involved adapting language nuances, like adapting proverbs, and ensuring that the content is relevant to Indonesian children's experiences. This reduces cultural bias and improves the test's ability to identify cognitive issues accurately.

What are the next steps for the Indonesian version of the SYSTEMS-R?

Future research on the Indonesian version of the SYSTEMS-R should focus on confirming its test-retest reliability and validity against gold-standard cognitive tests. This involves repeatedly administering the test to the same children to assess consistency over time, and comparing the results to other established tests. Such validation is essential to ensure the SYSTEMS-R is a dependable tool for Indonesian children, guaranteeing that children with cognitive issues receive timely and effective support.