Communication assessment. Birth to 36 months

A comprehensive developmental evaluation of children under 3 years of age cannot be accomplished without assessing preverbal and verbal aspects of language functioning. All members of the early intervention team, not only the speech-language pathologist, must be knowledgeable about techniques for observing and measuring communicative ability. If we are to improve our ability to identify, at an early age, those who display or are at risk of displaying a communicative pathology, we must direct increased attention toward effective techniques and materials for assessing communicative ability for children under 3 years of age. Clinicians must become familiar with the developmental expectations and performance of various categories of at-risk and handicapped children to enhance case finding and intervention-oriented activities. The efficacy of early intervention is highly dependent on age of identification and degree of family involvement. Clearly, age of identification can be improved upon as effective means of communication assessment for children under 3 are established.