The Department of Health announced today the launch of the Hong Kong Scales for Assessment of Theory of Mind (HKAToM) for assessing the social cognitive abilities of Cantonese-speaking children.

It is the first locally developed, standardised and norm-referenced assessment instrument which enables professionals engaged in child development to understand the social cognitive abilities of Cantonese-speaking children between the age of five and 12 years one month.

Professionals in Hong Kong usually make reference to overseas studies or use materials adapted from theories that have been well studied overseas to assess local children's relevant abilities.

A multidisciplinary professional team of the department's Child Assessment Service has teamed up with the University of Hong Kong's Faculty of Education to develop the HKAToM based on scientific evidence, catering to the needs of local Cantonese-speaking children.

The tool is intended to be used by professionals including clinical psychologists, educational psychologists, developmental-behavioural paediatricians, paediatric neurologists, psychiatrists and speech therapists working in the public sector as well as those from non-government organisations and the private sector.

Users should be fluent in Cantonese to meet the standardised requirements for administration of the tool.

The department organised a web-based dissemination seminar on the tool for professionals of related local sectors yesterday.

The HKAToM will be sold to eligible registered users at $3,930 per set.