Using Norm-Referenced Tests to Determine Severity of Language Impairment in Children: Disconnect Between U.S. Policy Makers and Test Developers.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify various U.S. state education departments' criteria for determining the severity of language impairment in children, with particular focus on the use of norm-referenced tests. A secondary objective was to determine if norm-referenced tests of child l...

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Publicado en:Language, Speech & Hearing Services in Schools Vol. 43; no. 2; pp. 176 - 191
Autores principales: Spaulding, Tammie J., Szulga, Margaret Swartwout, Figueroab, Cecilia
Formato: research tables/charts Journal Article
Publicado: American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Apr2012
Acceso en línea:Ver este registro en EBSCOhost
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      dt: Apr2012
      vid: 43
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      pub: American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
      place: Rockville, Maryland
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        10.1044/0161-1461(2011/10-0103)
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        atl: Using Norm-Referenced Tests to Determine Severity of Language Impairment in Children: Disconnect Between U.S. Policy Makers and Test Developers.
      aug:
        au:
          Spaulding, Tammie J.
          Szulga, Margaret Swartwout
          Figueroab, Cecilia
        affil: University of Connecticut, Storrs
      sug:
        subj:
          Language Disorders In Infancy and Childhood
          Severity of Disability Evaluation
          Policy and Procedure Manuals Evaluation
          Government Agencies United States
          Human
          Funding Source
          Child
          United States
          Test Taking Standards
          Variance Analysis
          Speech and Language Assessment Methods
          Validity
          Reference Values
          Child: 6-12 years
      ab: Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify various U.S. state education departments' criteria for determining the severity of language impairment in children, with particular focus on the use of norm-referenced tests. A secondary objective was to determine if norm-referenced tests of child language were developed for the purpose of identifying the severity of children's language impairment. Method: Published procedures for severity determinations were obtained from U.S. state education departments. In addition, manuals for 45 norm-referenced tests of child language were reviewed to determine if each test was designed to identify the degree of a child's language impairment. Consistency was evaluated among state criteria, test developers' intentions, and test characteristics. Results: At the time of this study, 8 states published guidelines for determining the severity of language impairment, and each specified the use of norm-referenced tests for this purpose. The degree of use and cutoff-point criteria for severity determination varied across states. No cutoff-point criteria aligned with the severity cutoff points described within the test manuals. Furthermore, tests that included severity information lacked empirical data on how the severity categories were derived. Conclusion: Researchers and clinicians should be cautious in determining the severity of children's language impairment using norm-referenced test performance given the inconsistency in guidelines and lack of empirical data within test manuals to support this use.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype:
        research
        tables/charts
        Journal Article
      ougenre: Article
    language: English
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