Article

AIM: To evaluate construct and predictive validity of the Communication Function
Classification System (CFCS) for use with preschool children with a range of
speech and language disorders. METHOD: Seventy-seven preschool children with
speech and language disorders (50 males, 27 females;
mean 2y 7mo, standard
deviation [SD] 1y) participated in this cohort study.
Preschool children had
speech and language, language-only, or speech-only disorders. Together with
parent input, speech-language pathologists (SLPs) completed the CFCS at time 1.
Parents and SLPs then independently completed a validated change-detecting
functional communication outcome measure, the Focus
on the outcomes of
Communication Under Six (FOCUS), three times: at assessment (time 1), at the
start of treatment (time 2), and at the end of treatment (time 3). RESULTS: There
was a significant negative correlation between CFCS classifications and FOCUS
scores at all three measurement points for the ratings by both parents and SLPs
(correlations ranged from -0.60 to -0.76). As expected, no correlations between
CFCS classifications and FOCUS change scores were statistically significant.
INTERPRETATION: This study provides evidence of construct and predictive validity
of the CFCS, demonstrating its value as a discriminative tool for use with
preschool children with a range of speech and language disorders.
CI - (c) 2017 Mac Keith Press.

Langue : ANGLAIS