The Bayley Scale of Infant and Toddler Development (Bayley-III) is designed to assess the developmental functioning of infants and young children 1-42 months of age. Read More
Category: African American English (AAE)/ African American Vernacular English (AAVE)
African American English (AAE) is a dialect of English, traditionally spoken by the African American community, but currently spoken by people from a variety of ethnic, racial, and socioeconomic backgrounds. AAE is distinguished from Standard American English (SAE) by distinct pronunciation (phonology), vocabulary (lexicon), verb tense, and aspect (morphosyntax). It is also sometimes referred to as “African American Vernacular English” or AAVE.
Test Review: PLS-5 English
The PLS-5 is designed for use with children aged birth through 7;11 to assess language development and identify children who have a language delay or disorder. Read More
Test Review: CELF-4
CELF-4 Test Review- Final Draftdocx.pdf
The Clinical Evaluation of Language Fundamentals-Fourth Edition (CELF-4) is a standardized test designed to assess the presence of a language disorder or delay in children aged 5-21. Read More
Research Text: Minority Students in Special and Gifted Education
Source URL: View this document on the National Academies Press website
This article highlighted the role that evaluators play in perpetuating the achievement gap between students from different socioeconomic backgrounds. When an evaluator uses assessment procedures, such as standardized tests, that are biased against students from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, it results in typically developing students being placed in special education where they are much less likely to graduate from high school and college.
Relevant Research: Psychometric Review of Language and Articulation Tests for Preschool Children
Source URL: View this document on the ASHA website
This was one of the first of many articles publishing research demonstrating the severe limitations of using commercially available child language tests when assessing children for speech and language disability. Read More
Relevant Research: Past Tense Marking by African American English-Speaking Children Reared in Poverty AND Passive Participle Marking by African American English-Speaking Children Reared in Poverty
Source URL: View this document on the ASHA website
These studies represent more evidence against the use of standardized tests when assessing the linguistic abilities of culturally or linguistically diverse (CLD) children.
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Model Eval: 3;0- AAE/ SAE- Severe Language Delay- Shaken Baby Syndrome
ModelEval30-AAESAE-SevereLanguageDelay-ShakenBabySyndrome.pdf
Anthony is a 3-year-old child with multiple-handicaps. He has “Shaken Baby Syndrome” due to abuse. He lives with his grandmother who primarily speaks AAE, but is also exposed to SAE. With all children, but especially children with severe multiple handicaps, it is critical to describe the child’s strengths which can be built upon in developing strategies to improve the child’s functional communication.
Model Eval: 3;5- AAE/SAE- Typically Developing
Henry is a 3 year, 5 month old child who speaks African American Vernacular English. He was recently placed in a foster home so there is little background information. Henry is descriptive and communicative during play.
