Measuring Children’s Language Comprehension

Assessing Language Comprehension in Children

1. Importance of Non-Standardized Probes

  • Standardized tests exist, but non-standardized probes are often created by SLPs.

2. Categories of Comprehension Evaluation

  • Identification: Children point to a picture that fits the word or answers questions.

    • Example: Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test (PPVT-4)

  • Acting-out Items: Children demonstrate actions from sentences.

    • Example: "Give me the bottle."

  • Judgment Tasks: Children identify whether sentences are grammatically correct.

    • Example: "Me play ball" is incorrect.

3. Assessing Language Comprehension by Age Group

  • Infants and Toddlers:

    • Standardized assessments:

      • Rossetti Infant-Toddler Language Scale (parent report)

      • MacArthur-Bates Communicative Development Inventories (parent report)

    • Pair with informal assessments (observations in familiar environments).

  • Preschool Age Children:

    • Popular assessments:

      • PPVT-5: Assesses receptive vocabulary with picture prompts.

      • Preschool Language Scale (PLS-5): Includes auditory comprehension and expressive communication.

      • Related video demonstration for PLS-5 assessment.

4. Summary of Caveats for Evaluation

  • Confirm hearing status to rule out concerns.

  • Avoid nonlinguistic gestures that hint at understanding.

  • Use familiar vocabulary to ensure comprehension is not misassessed.