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 Screening
Services and Assessments: Speech
and Language Screening
Acquiring speech
and language skills is a developmental process, with the most
significant development occurring between birth and
3 years of age. Communication deficits can often be identified
early, even before actual words are spoken.
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Periodicity
and Guidelines for Speech and Language Screening |
Speech and
language screening is considered part of developmental screening.
Use both objective and subjective methods of screening
for communication development.
Subjective Screening
Assess speech and language skills at each preventive health visit
from birth to 5 years of age.
Through direct questioning (see below), evaluate the infant’s
or child’s communication abilities in the following four areas
of development:
- Comprehension
- Expressive
Language
- Speech Development
- Social Language
Objective
Screening
Although recommended
ages for screening are included in the HealthCheck Periodicity Schedule
under developmental assessment, objective screens should occur as
needed.
Obtain objective findings through the use of standardized screening
measures, such as the Denver Developmental Screening Test II or
the Language Development Survey.
Referrals
If needed, referrals for a more comprehensive screening or diagnostic
evaluation should be made to a speech and hearing clinic.
Hearing Concerns
It is important to note the child’s hearing screening results
and any questions concerning hearing ability. Persistent episodes
of otitis media can be an indication that hearing loss, though transient,
may have affected the child’s speech acquisition.
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Subjective
Screening Questions
When performing a subjective screen of the child’s speech and language skills,
ask the following questions about the child’s communication abilities: |
Comprehension
- Is your child
having any difficulty understanding what you say?
- Is your child
responding to his/her name when called?
- Is your child
able to answer simple questions?
- Is your child
able to follow simple directions around the home?
- Is your child
showing an interest in what you or others are saying?
Expressive
Language
- How does
your child make his/her wants known?
- Is your child
communicating using true words?
If yes, is your child combining words into sentences?
If no, is your child communicating using combinations of
words, gestures, or other expressive body language?
- Is your child
able to express his/her thoughts clearly and easily?
- Is your child
experiencing any frustration communicating with others?
Speech Development
- Is your child
pronouncing words clearly?
- Is your child
having trouble pronouncing certain sounds, such as s, z, k, g,
t, d, l, etc.?
- Do you understand
what your child is saying?
- Do others
understand what your child is saying?
- Is your child
having any difficulties moving his/her mouth to make sounds?
Social Language
- Does your
child look at you and others during a conversation?
- Does your
child request assistance or information from you or others?
- Does your
child appropriately respond to questions, comments or directions
presented to him/her?
- Does your
child naturally imitate phrases heard in conversation or do so
in a way that is excessive?
- Does your
child enjoy/avoid communicative interactions with others?
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