Screening Kit of Language Development: a preschool language screening instrument

Area of Science:

• Child Language Development
• Speech-Language Pathology
• Developmental Psychology

Background:

• Early identification of language delays is crucial for intervention.
• Existing screening tools may lack standardization for diverse linguistic backgrounds.
• Paraprofessionals require accessible tools for effective screening.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce the Screening Kit of Language Development (SKOLD).
• To detail the development and validation of SKOLD for young children.
• To ensure SKOLD's suitability for paraprofessional administration.

Main Methods:

• Development of screening items based on language milestones.
• Standardization of SKOLD for speakers of standard and Black English.
• Assessment of reliability and validity in the target age group.

Main Results:

• SKOLD demonstrates validity for children aged 2.5-4 years.
• The tool is standardized for both standard and Black English speakers.
• SKOLD is appropriate for use by paraprofessional screeners.

Conclusions:

• SKOLD provides a reliable and valid method for early language screening.
• The kit addresses the need for culturally and linguistically appropriate assessment tools.
• Paraprofessionals can effectively utilize SKOLD for identifying children needing further language evaluation.