engleski

The question of time: Group and individual approach to language screening

Speech and language development is a useful indicator of a child's overall cognitive development and is related to school success (overview: Nelson et al, 2006). Identification of children at risk for language impairment may lead to intervention services and family assistance at a young age, when the chances for improvement are best. Language screening is usually defined as quick and efficient procedure with the goal of identifying children at risk for speech and language delay (van Agt, 2007). There are, however, disagreements regarding the optimal method, instruments, age or age intervals of screening (overview: Nelson et al, 2006). Screening instruments for preschool children are designed as short language tests that assess both comprehension and production, but vary significantly in both administering time and the content. Such materials are not available nor for Croatian or for any other South Slavic language. There are some methods and materials used by clinicians in order to identify children at risk, and at many times they include group approach in which clinician assesses one group of children, appointing some of them to further language diagnostics. Main argument for the group approach is time efficiency. Since group approach is rare in in the overall language screening perspectives, but quite prevalent in local context, when designing language screening material for Croatian in the scope of the project Prerequisites for academic equality: early recognition of language disorders (IPA 4.1.2.2.02.01.c02), both group and individual procedures were developed in parallel. Screening materials were tested on 350 children showing high reliability measured by coefficient of internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha =, 86) for individual procedures and much lower (Cronbach's alpha=, 74) for group procedures leading to the conclusion that the argument of time efficiency for group screening procedures should be revised.

language assessment; language screening; test reliability

nije evidentirano