Evaluating the discriminant accuracy of a grammatical measure with Spanish-speaking children.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the discriminant accuracy of a grammatical measure for the identification of language impairment in Latino Spanish-speaking children. The authors hypothesized that if exposure to and use of English as a second language have an effect on the first language, bilingual children might exhibit lower rates of grammatical accuracy than their peers and be more likely to be misclassified.


METHODS
Eighty children with typical language development and 80 with language impairment were sampled from 4 different geographical regions and compared using linear discriminant function analysis.


RESULTS
Results indicated fair-to-good sensitivity from 4;0 to 5;1 years, good sensitivity from 5;2 to 5;11 years, and poor sensitivity above age 6 years. The discriminant functions derived from the exploratory studies were able to predict group membership in confirmatory analyses with fair-to-excellent sensitivity up to age 6 years. Children who were bilingual did not show lower scores and were not more likely to be misclassified compared with their Spanish-only peers.


CONCLUSIONS
The measure seems to be appropriate for identifying language impairment in either Spanish-dominant or Spanish-only speakers between 4 and 6 years of age. However, for older children, supplemental testing is necessary.
Gutiérrez-Clellen
Vera F
VF
School of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences, and SDSU/UCSD Joint Doctoral Program in Language and Communicative Disorders, San Diego State University 5500 Campanile Drive, San Diego, CA 92182-1518, USA. vclellen@mail.sdsu.edu
Restrepo
M Adelaida
MA
Simón-Cereijido
Gabriela
G
D002663:Child Language; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D008037:Linguistics / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D013063:Speech Discrimination Tests; D013067:Speech Perception