A further look at two grammatical measures from children's language samples and their contribution to the diagnostic process.

Abstract

Previous research has identified two measures derived from language sample analysis as having a high level of diagnostic accuracy for developmental language disorder (DLD): a verb-based measure, the Finite Verb Morphology Composite (FVMC) and a more comprehensive grammatical measure, the Sentence Point. In this study, we evaluated the sensitivity and specificity of these two measures using a new group of children with DLD. To determine whether these measures would likely add to diagnostic decision making if used in conjuncion with other tests of language, we also examined the relationship between scores on these two measures and scores on a standardized test with a grammatical emphasis. In Study 1, FVMC and Sentence Point scores were computed from the language samples of 22 four- and five-year-olds with DLD and 22 age-matched typically developing peers. Both measures showed very good sensitivity and specificity. In Study 2, we analyzed the FVMC and the Sentence Point correlations with the SPELT-P2 for the 22 children wtih DLD from Study 1 and for a larger group of 60 children with DLD. All correlations were very low and non-significant. Results suggest that the FVMC and Sentence Point could be part of a diagnostic battery for DLD as these measures demonstrate good sensitivity and specificity. Furthermore, the findings of very low correlations between these measures and the SPELT-P2 suggest that they can contribute unique information to the diagnostic process even when used in concert with standardized tests of a grammatical nature.