Assessing language comprehension in motor impaired children needing AAC: validity and reliability of the Norwegian version of the receptive language test C-BiLLT.
Children with severe motor impairments who need augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) comprise a heterogeneous group with wide variability in cognitive functioning. Assessment of language comprehension will help find the best possible communication solution for each child, but there is a lack of appropriate instruments. This study investigates the reliability and validity of the Norwegian version of the spoken language comprehension test C-BiLLT (computer-based instrument for low motor language testing) - the C-BiLLT-Nor - and whether response modality influences test results. The participants were 238 children with typical development aged 1;2 to 7;10 (years/months) who were assessed with the C-BiLLT-Nor and tests of language comprehension and non-verbal reasoning. There was excellent internal consistency and good test-retest reliability. Tests of language comprehension and non-verbal reasoning correlated significantly with the C-BiLLT-Nor, indicating good construct validity. Factor analysis yielded a two-factor solution, suggesting it as a measure of receptive vocabulary, grammar, and overall language comprehension. No difference in results could be related to response mode, implying that gaze pointing is a viable option for children who cannot point with a finger. The C-BiLLT-Nor, with norms from 1;6-7;6 is a reliable measure of language comprehension.
['Fiske|Sara Ida|SI|', 'Haddeland|Anne Lise|AL|', 'Skipar|Ingvild|I|', 'Bootsma|Jael N|JN|', 'Geytenbeek|Johanna J|JJ|', 'Stadskleiv|Kristine|K|0000-0002-5478-5689']
D002547:Cerebral Palsy D002648:Child D002675:Child, Preschool D003071:Cognition D003143:Communication Aids for Disabled D003147:Communication Disorders D032882:Comprehension D005260:Female D005403:Fixation, Ocular D064368:Healthy Volunteers D006801:Humans D007223:Infant D007807:Language Tests D008297:Male D009664:Norway D015203:Reproducibility of Results
Assessment language comprehension C-BiLLT augmentative and alternative communication cognition cerebral palsy