Psychometric Characteristics of Single-Word Tests of Children's Speech Sound Production

• Published in: Language, speech & hearing services in schools Vol. 46; no. 2; pp. 166 - 178
• Main Authors: Flipsen, Peter, Jr, Ogiela, Diane A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) 01-04-2015
• Subjects: Child; Criteria; Humans; Language Tests; Morphology (Languages); Phonemes; Phonetics; Psychometrics; Speech Communication; Speech Disorders - diagnosis; Test Validity; Tests
• ISSN: 0161-1461; 1558-9129
• DOI: 10.1044/2015_LSHSS-14-0055

Purpose: Our understanding of test construction has improved since the now-classic review by McCauley and Swisher (1984) . The current review article examines the psychometric characteristics of current single-word tests of speech sound production in an attempt to determine whether our tests have improved since then. It also provides a resource that clinicians may use to help them make test selection decisions for their particular client populations. Method: Ten tests published since 1990 were reviewed to determine whether they met the 10 criteria set out by McCauley and Swisher (1984), as well as 7 additional criteria. Results: All of the tests reviewed met at least 3 of McCauley and Swisher's (1984) original criteria, and 9 of 10 tests met at least 5 of them. Most of the tests met some of the additional criteria as well. Conclusions: The state of the art for single-word tests of speech sound production in children appears to have improved in the last 30 years. There remains, however, room for improvement.