Speech and Language Samples

speech and language sample

• type of non-standardized criterion-referenced assessment

• observation of real-time natural speech and language skills

• can be collected from toddlers to adults

• variety of sample types can be used to obtain specific info

• can tailor techniques to the individual

• supplements standardized tests to support diagnosis of a disorder

advantages of a speech and language sample

• process is natural and represents the client’s real-life communication

• functional strengths and weaknesses can be identified

• helps to support the presence, type, and severity of communication disorders

• allows for individualization and more personalized goal setting

• can be used for baselining and progress monitoring 

• can evaluate how well communication skills generalize

challenges of speech and language samples

• with certain populations, can be difficult to collect representative samples

• analysis is time-consuming

• approach requires a higher level of clinical expertise than other approaches

• accuracy and reliability are less assured

• information can be missed

child speech samples

• can be more challenging, especially with quiet or hesitant individuals

• use stimulus questions and engaging open-ended prompts; adapt to age and interest

• requires creativity, patience, and flexibility

• use play-based activities to encourage speech

• interactive play, follow individual’s lead, and make activities fun

• minimize instructions

• encourage spontaneous language in a natural, enjoyable context

adult speech and language sampling

• easier if individual is verbal 

• use straightforward open-ended prompts

• minimal creativity needed

• charts, life stories, photo descriptions

• conversation-based mutual sharing

• elicit functional, narrative conversation

steps of a speech and language sample

1. select a sample type

   1. skills to be targeted

   2. materials needed

2. Obtain data

   1. use recording device

   2. elicit 50-250 utterances during natural interactions

3. analyse data

   1. determine functional strengths and challenges

conversational speech and language sample

assess natural, spontaneous speech during dialogue

• measure: MLU, word count, t-units, analysis of pragmatics, intelligibility, grammar, vocab, fluency

• used in toddlers through adults

narrative speech and language sample

storytelling, sequencing, expressive language, story retell, narrative structures, language cohesion

• measure: MLU, t-unites, analysis of vocab diversity, story grammar elements, use rubric to indicate skill level

• ages 4 and up

descriptive and expressive language

describing pictures to assess vocabulary, grammar, sentence structure, language cohesion

• measure: word count, MLU, analyze lexical diversity, syntactic structure, semantic complexity, fluency

• ages 3 and up

play-based speech and language samples

assesses spontaneous speech and interactions during play

• measure: MLU, word count, analysis of communicative intent. vocab, pragmatics, compare to developmental norms

• toddlers-early elementary

reading aloud

phonological awareness, articulation, fluency, prosody, and decoding skills

• measure: analysis of rate of speech, errors, fluency markers, prosodic features

• ages 6 and up (literate)

procedural language

expressing steps to a task or giving direction, language cohesion

• measure: t-units, analysis of syntactic complexity, sequencing, cohesion, comprehension

• ages 8-adults

fluency speech and language sample

disfluency patterns in connected speech

• analysis of frequency, duration, and types of disfluencies, speech rate

• ages 2.5-adults

pragmatic interaction speech and language sample

topic maintenance and repair, turn-taking, and conversational responsiveness

• measure: use qualitative checklists, behavioral analysis, video analysis, compare to developmental norms

• ages 3-adults

strategies for effective collection

• build rapport before starting the sample

• allow silence, give wait time for the client to respond

• use engaging topics/materials

• let the client lead the conversation

• vary topics and contexts

• be mindful of age and cultural sensitivity in all interactions

• record with high-quality video if possible

word count

total number of words spoken

• used in language sample

• all ages

• unit of analysis: words

• purpose: general language output

• how to calculate: each spoken word is counted once

• can use word processing software

• quantifies output broadly

MLU

average number of morphemes per utterance

• preschool-early school-age children

• unit of analysis: morphemes per utterance

• purpose: grammatical and linguistic development

• calculate: each utterance is broken down into individual morphemes

• total morphemes/ total utterances=MLU

• tracks developmental language milestones

t-unit sample

syntactic complexity through main clause+subordinate clause

• school-age children, adolescents, adults

• independent clauses+attached subordinate clauses

• purpose: complex sentence structure analysis

• calculate: t-unit= one main clause+ all subordinate clauses attached

• “the dog is running fast because it saw a cat”= 1 t-unit

• MLTU mean length of t-unit

• assesses higher level grammatical organization