The Application of Dynamic Assessment in People Communicating at a Prelinguistic Level: A descriptive review of the literature

Abstract

Many people with severe disabilities face difficulties communicating with their communication partners and rely primarily on prelinguistic communication. It is accepted that dynamic assessment can play an important role in improving communication and in measuring a person’s ability to learn new communicative skills. Less is known, however, about the application of dynamic assessment in the case of those who communicate at a prelinguistic level. The present article reviewed dynamic assessment procedures that addressed communication abilities in people communicating at a prelinguistic level and young children who communicate using speech, with the aim of identifying key elements of dynamic assessment for persons communicating at a prelinguistic level. The results indicated the need for the identification of contextual variables that support communicative competence, teaching communication partners new skills, and a procedure that is highly individualised. Further research on the validity and reliability of these dynamic assessments is strongly recommended.

Keywords:

• communication
• communication partner skills
• contextual support
• dynamic assessment
• individualised procedure
• language
• prelinguistic
• severe disabilities
• speech

Acknowledgements

This study was supported by Royal Dutch Kentalis. Opinions reflect those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of Royal Dutch Kentalis. The authors had no financial or other conflicts of interest.