Using Narrative Language Samples to Find a Dialect Neutral Assessment for Language Impairment
Mentor 1
John Heilmann
Location
Union Wisconsin Room
Start Date
5-4-2019 1:30 PM
End Date
5-4-2019 3:30 PM
Description
Narrative story retell is an empirically supported assessment that has a child recount the events in a narrative story they were previously told. Narrative story retell is one effective strategy used by speech-language pathologists to collect authentic language samples from children in a naturalistic setting as well as giving examiners access to multiple linguistic features the child has (Heilmann, Miller, & Dunaway, 2009). Since standardized tests are often biased against children from non-mainstream backgrounds, narrative language sample analysis is also a good method for testing children from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds (Laing & Kamhi, 2003). Narrative discourse is relatively universal across cultures and more approachable than standardized testing for children who are not familiar with standardized procedures. However, many of the traditional ways we assess language may be influenced by speakers of non-standard dialect. Dialects are rule-based differences in patterns of language use. Dialects are not a disordered way of speaking, but rather a systematic difference. African American English (AAE) is a common dialect in the United States. Many features of AAE overlap with diagnostic markers for language impairment. For example, dropping third-person singular (“she go” instead of “she goes”). We do not want to penalize children who speak AAE and potentially over diagnose language impairment. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to test the properties of narrative language sample measures that are dialect neutral. For my SURF project, I coded the samples for complex syntax using Subordination Index (SI). SI is the ratio of the number of clauses to the number of communication units (C-units). I also coded the samples for narrative organization skills using Narrative Scoring Scheme (NSS). NSS provides a standardized method to assess the child’s use of cohesion, character development, referencing, and the use of metacognitive vocabulary.
Using Narrative Language Samples to Find a Dialect Neutral Assessment for Language Impairment
Union Wisconsin Room
Narrative story retell is an empirically supported assessment that has a child recount the events in a narrative story they were previously told. Narrative story retell is one effective strategy used by speech-language pathologists to collect authentic language samples from children in a naturalistic setting as well as giving examiners access to multiple linguistic features the child has (Heilmann, Miller, & Dunaway, 2009). Since standardized tests are often biased against children from non-mainstream backgrounds, narrative language sample analysis is also a good method for testing children from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds (Laing & Kamhi, 2003). Narrative discourse is relatively universal across cultures and more approachable than standardized testing for children who are not familiar with standardized procedures. However, many of the traditional ways we assess language may be influenced by speakers of non-standard dialect. Dialects are rule-based differences in patterns of language use. Dialects are not a disordered way of speaking, but rather a systematic difference. African American English (AAE) is a common dialect in the United States. Many features of AAE overlap with diagnostic markers for language impairment. For example, dropping third-person singular (“she go” instead of “she goes”). We do not want to penalize children who speak AAE and potentially over diagnose language impairment. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to test the properties of narrative language sample measures that are dialect neutral. For my SURF project, I coded the samples for complex syntax using Subordination Index (SI). SI is the ratio of the number of clauses to the number of communication units (C-units). I also coded the samples for narrative organization skills using Narrative Scoring Scheme (NSS). NSS provides a standardized method to assess the child’s use of cohesion, character development, referencing, and the use of metacognitive vocabulary.
