Child Language & Play Skills

Question 1

Interview Topics

Answer 1

How does your child:
-get your attention?
-express wants/needs?
-follow directions?
-participate in conversation
How well do you understand your child/child understands you?

Question 2

Information Needed During Language & Play Skills

Answer 2

• Receptive/Expressive Skills
• Performance across phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, pragmatics
• Oral/Written Language
• Function Language Use

Question 3

Standardized Tests (Preschool)

Answer 3

• PLS-5
• CELF:P-2
• REEL-3
• TELD-3
• CASL
• PPVT-4

Question 4

Standardized Tests (School-Aged/Adolescents)

Answer 4

• Language Processing Test-3
• Test of Word Finding-2
• Expressive/Receptive One-Word Picture Vocabulary Tests

Question 5

Non-Standardized

Answer 5

• Retherford Method
• SUGAR Method
• SALT ?
• CHILDES ?

Question 6

Informal Assessment (FORM)

Answer 6

Calculate MLU

Compare to norms/expectations

Question 7

Informal Assessment (CONTENT)

Answer 7

• Assess content categories/use of semantic relations
• # of different words
• Type/Token Ration

Question 8

Informal Assessment (USE)

Answer 8

• General interaction skills (eye contact, responsiveness, etc.)
• Evaluate conversational skills (topic maintenance/change, turn-taking
• Evaluate functional use of language (behavior, social, joint attention)

Question 9

Early Intervention Assessment

Answer 9

How to gather data:

• parent/caregiver interview
• questionnaires
• observation of child w/ caregiver (in natural environment)
• elicitation of skills using informal techniques

Question 10

Limitations of Instruments

Answer 10

• limited opportunities for child initiation
• focuses on verbal skills
• focuses on form over function
• limited opportunities for parent input
• doesn’t predict language/communication at later ages well

Question 11

Nonverbal Skills Assessment

Answer 11

• play behavior
• use of gesture/sign/symbols/objects
• use of nonspeech vocalizations
• use of meaningful vocalizations
• nonverbal responses to verbal stimuli

Question 12

Late Talkers

Answer 12

• normal language comprehension
• less than 50 words & no word combinations by age 2
• 50% grow out of delay by 3

Question 13

Language-Disordered Toddlers

Answer 13

• family history of speech/language problems
• limited phonetic repertoire
• frequent deletion of initial/final consonants
• vowel errors
• atypical error patterns
• decreased symbolic play skills

Question 14

Constructive Play

Answer 14

systematic manipulation of materials to create a product (fluid vs structured materials)

Question 15

Symbolic Play

Answer 15

make-believe play in which a child uses one object to represent another

Question 16

Westby’s Play Scale

Answer 16

Presymbolic Play (prior to 17-19 months)

• communicative intent
• object permanence
• means-ends
• exploration/use of objects

Symbolic Play (begins 17-19 months)

• decontextualization
• thematic content
• organization of themes
• self-other relationships

Question 17

Play-Language Relationships

Answer 17

• Play = language form, function, content
• Play > language form, function, content
• Play > language form, but = function, content
• Language form > play and language content, function

Question 18

Analyzing Play Skills

Answer 18

• settings
• materials
• examiner’s role
• cultural considerations