Assessing Comprehension of Spoken Language in Nonspeaking Children with Cerebral Palsy: Application of a Newly Developed Computer-Based Instrument

Abstract

This paper describes the development of an instrument to assess comprehension of spoken language in children with severe cerebral palsy (CP) who cannot speak, and for whom standard language assessment measures are not appropriate due to severe motor impairment. This instrument, the Computer-Based instrument for Low motor Language Testing (C-BiLLT), was administered to 42 children without disabilities (aged 14 months to 60 months) and to 18 children with severe CP (age 19 months to 71 months). Preliminary data showed that the instrument was acceptable to the children. Convergent validity was investigated by correlating C-BiLLT scores with test results on the well-established Reynell Developmental Language Scales (RDLS). Clinical implications and recommendations for future research are discussed.

Keywords:

• Cerebral palsy
• Complex communication needs
• Language comprehension
• Language test
• Severe speech and language disorders

Acknowledgments

Special thanks are extended to our young participants and members of their family for their willingness to cooperate in our study. The authors also thank VandenDries Web Solutions and John Vos Art Work. We are also grateful to Heliomare, Trappenberg, Mytylschool Amsterdam, Rehabilitation Centre of Amsterdam St Maartenskliniek and Nifterlake for their collaboration in this multi-centre study. Financial support was gratefully received from the Rotary Club in Goes (The Netherlands), and Fujitsu-Siemens in Maarssen (The Netherlands). The project (number 2008043) is financially supported by Phelps-Stichting.

Notes

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