This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed My Folders Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Kramer, C. A. Articles by Saxman, J. H. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Kramer, C. A. Articles by Saxman, J. H.

A Comparison of Language Samples Elicited at Home and in the Clinic

Syracuse University, New York

Abstract

One of the most common methods of obtaining diagnostic information about a child's language production is to collect and analyze a spontaneous language sample. Usually, this sample is collected in a clinical setting by a speech-language pathologist. Because children's language production seems very sensitive to situational variables, there is some question about the representativeness of language samples obtained in clinical settings. This study compared language samples obtained in the home by the mothers with those obtained in the clinic by speech-language pathologists. Subjects were three- to five-year-old children who had been referred for speech and language diagnostics. Results were that the children's mean-length-of-utterance (MLU) scores were better for the home sample, although there was no difference between their Developmental Sentence Scores (DSS) for the home sample and the clinic sample. The home samples yielded higher MLU stage placements (Brown, 1973) and higher estimated language ages on the DSS (Lee, 1974) for most of the children. Clinical implications of the results are discussed.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				T. T. Smith, E. Lee, and H. L. McDade An Investigation of T-Units in African American English-Speaking and Standard American English-Speaking Fourth-Grade Children Communication Disorders Quarterly, January 1, 2001; 22(3): 148 - 157. [Abstract] [PDF]

				L. B. Yonovitz and K. R. Andrews A Play and Story-Telling Probe for Assessing Early Language Content Communication Disorders Quarterly, January 1, 1995; 16(2): 10 - 18. [Abstract] [PDF]

				S. Bacchini, F. Kuiken, and R. Schoonen Generalizability of spontaneous speech data: the effect of occasion and place on the speech production of children First Language, January 1, 1995; 15(44): 131 - 150. [Abstract] [PDF]

				S. Tonn and A. Van Kleeck The Quality of a Language Sample as a Function of Its Placement in an Assessment Battery Communication Disorders Quarterly, January 1, 1986; 9(2): 125 - 132. [Abstract] [PDF]

				P. M. Hargrove, C. Holmberg, and M. Zeigler Changes in spontaneous speech associated with therapy hiatus: a retrospective study Child Language Teaching and Therapy, January 1, 1986; 2(3): 266 - 280. [Abstract] [PDF]