Validity Evidence for the LittlEARS Early Speech Production Questionnaire: An English-Speaking, Canadian Sample

Area of Science:

• Pediatric audiology
• Speech-language pathology
• Developmental psychology

Background:

• Early identification and monitoring of speech development are crucial for children, especially those with hearing impairments.
• Existing tools may require validation for specific populations or languages.
• The LittlEARS Early Speech Production Questionnaire (LEESPQ) was developed to assess early spoken language.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide validity evidence for an English translation of the LEESPQ.
• To evaluate the LEESPQ's utility as a tool for monitoring early spoken language outcomes in young children.
• To support clinical assessment for children who are deaf/hard of hearing.

Main Methods:

• Collected data from 90 typically developing children aged 0-18 months with confirmed normal hearing.
• Parents completed the English LEESPQ and the Receptive-Expressive Emergent Language Test-Third Edition (RELL-3).
• Utilized traditional scale analyses, item parameter analysis, and common factor analysis.

Main Results:

• The LEESPQ demonstrated high correlations with the RELL-3 (r = .92) and chronological age (r = .90).
• Achieved high internal consistency (Omega = 0.92).
• Factor analysis identified two factors: vocal and symbolic development, with a latent trait model showing the best fit.

Conclusions:

• The English LEESPQ accurately captures early spoken language development in typically developing young children.
• The LEESPQ is a promising, clinically feasible tool for spoken language outcome monitoring.
• Further research is needed to compare performance between typically developing and clinical populations.