Screening versions of the European Portuguese MacArthur-Bates Communicative Development Inventories Short Forms:...

Area of Science:

• Developmental Psychology
• Linguistics
• Clinical Psychology

Background:

• Early identification of language impairments in infants and toddlers is crucial for timely intervention.
• Existing screening tools need validation for specific linguistic and cultural contexts, such as European Portuguese.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate screening versions of the European Portuguese MacArthur-Bates Communicative Development Inventories Short Forms (EP CDI-SFs).
• To create reliable and valid tools (EP CDI-Scr) to guide referrals for comprehensive language assessments in young children.

Main Methods:

• Factor analysis was used to select the 20 most psychometrically robust items from EP CDI-SF Level I and Level II.
• The study involved cohorts of typically developing children, children at-risk for language impairments, and children with Down syndrome across two age groups (8-18 months and 16-30 months).
• Validity and reliability were assessed through correlations, internal consistency, sensitivity, specificity, and discriminant validity analyses.

Main Results:

• The EP CDI-Scr versions demonstrated strong correlations with the original EP CDI-SFs in typically developing children.
• Excellent internal consistency, sensitivity, and moderate specificity were found for the EP CDI-Scr.
• The screening tools effectively distinguished between typically developing children, those at-risk for language impairments, and those with Down syndrome, confirming discriminant validity.

Conclusions:

• The EP CDI-Scr versions are valid, reliable, and effective tools for screening language development in European Portuguese infants and toddlers.
• These screening tools can support timely and accurate referrals for comprehensive language evaluations.
• The EP CDI-Scr facilitates early identification and intervention for children with or at-risk for language impairments.