Pediatric Language Assessment Flashcards
Norm-referenced tests are also known as __________________.
Formal tests
Are norm-referenced tests always standardized? Yes/No
Yes
What are norm-referenced tests?
They allow a comparison of an individual’s performance to the performance of a larger group
This type of test answers the following question: how does my client compare to the average?
Norm-referenced test
What is the normal distribution?
Used to identify what is “average” given a test
Often depicted using a bell-shaped curved
Average performance aka Median and mode
Peak
This is the “average”
Mean
Middle of the distribution
Median
Most frequenting occurring score
Mode
What are the advantages of using a norm-referenced test?
Objective
Skill of an individual can be compared to those of a larger group of similar individuals
Efficient test administration
Many norm-referenced tests are widely recognized
Clinicians are not required to have a high level of clinical experience and skill to administer and score tests
Insurance companies and school districts prefer known test entities for third-party payment and qualification for services
What is the empirical rule?
68% of all outcomes will fall within one standard deviation of the mean (34% on each side)
95% of all outcomes will fall within two standard deviations of the mean (47.5% on each side)
99.7% of all outcomes will fall within three standard deviations of the mean (49.85% on each side)
What are the disadvantages of using norm-referenced tests?
Do not allow for individualization
Tests are generally static; they tell what a person knows not how a person learns
The testing situation may be unnatural and not representative of real life
Isolated skills are evaluated without considering other contributing factors
Norm-referenced tests must be administered exactly as instructed for the results to be considered valid and reliable
Test materials may not be appropriate for certain clients, such as culturally and linguistically diverse clients
This is also known as the alternative assessment or nontraditional assessment
Authentic assessment
True or False. Authentic assessment is a one time assessment
False. It is on going
This answers the question “How does my patient’s performance compare to an expected level of performance?”
Criterion-referenced assessment
What is a dynamic assessment?
It is a form of authentic assessment
Purpose: To evaluate a client’s learning potential based on his or her ability to modify responses after the clinician provides teach or other assistance
Test → Teach → Retest
It also allows to determine baseline ability and identify appropriate goals and strategies for intervention
This is used to measure the impact of the language impairment on the child’s ability to participate in activities or experiences in a structured way. It is also used to gather information about contextual factors that support or hinder the child’s communicative progress.
Functional assessment
This can be collected through interviewing a caregivers or teacher or both
Case history
This is a type of observation that involves observing learning in natural settings without a predetermined focus. Example: a child doing a free play
Unstructured observation
This involves observing learnings in specific situations with a clear focus on particular language features
Structured observation
What are the three components of the SLPM?
The speech and language environment component
The speech and language processing component
Speech and language product component
What is the speech and language environment component?
It puts emphasis on the environmental events
This refers to the external factors in a child’s or individual’s environment that impact their speech and language environment
What is the speech and language processing component?
Underlying anatomy and processing events
What is the speech and language product component?
These are the observable parameters of speech and language behavior