Language
"Language" includes the words and concepts a child understands (receptive language) as well as the words and concepts a child uses (expressive language). It also includes the skills we use when we are socially interacting with others (pragmatic language).
Language concerns may include difficulty following directions, problem solving, putting words together, understanding what others are saying, or understanding vocal tone/body language. The child may have a limited vocabulary or may not be speaking.
Language concerns may include difficulty following directions, problem solving, putting words together, understanding what others are saying, or understanding vocal tone/body language. The child may have a limited vocabulary or may not be speaking.
How do you test Language?
After consultation with teachers and parents, the focus of the concern and the age of the student drives the choice of assessment tools. Two standardized tests are administered, a language sample is collected and analyzed, an observation is completed, and the child's parent, teacher and/or caregiver are interviewed.
What does "Qualify" mean?
To receive services through the school, your child needs to initially meet State eligibility criteria. For Minnesota, the Speech Clinician and another adult need to find the child's language ability interferes with communication and the language disorder/delay can not be the result of the influence of a foreign language. Children as young as infants may qualify for services. The child must score at least 2 Standard Deviations below the mean (think bottom 2 percentile) on two standardized language measures. Additional documentation of the language concern is also needed. This is accomplished through observation and language sampling.