Extending use of the NRT to preschool-age children with and without specific language impairment.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to assess the diagnostic accuracy of the Nonword Repetition Test (NRT; Dollaghan & Campbell, 1998) using a sample of 4- and 5-year-olds with and without specific language impairment (SLI) and to evaluate its feasibility for use in universal screening.


METHODS
The NRT was administered to 29 children with SLI and 47 age-matched children with typical development. Diagnostic accuracy was computed using alternative scoring methods, which treated out-of-inventory phonemes either as errors or as unscorable. To estimate accuracy in a universal screening context, the probability of identifying a child at risk for language impairment was computed using the prevalence of SLI (7%) as the base rate.


RESULTS
Diagnostic accuracy was acceptable using both scoring methods. The resulting likelihood ratios (LR+ = 22.66, 19.43; LR- = .05, .05) were similar to those reported for older children. The probability of accurate detection of children with SLI in the general population increased from 7% to 61%. However, this value suggests that many false positives could be expected.


CONCLUSIONS
The NRT yielded results similar to those reported for older children. However, despite its strengths, the NRT is not sufficient for screening the general population of 4- and 5-year-olds.
Deevy
Patricia
P
Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences, 1353 Heavilon Hall, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA. deevy@purdue.edu
Weil
Lisa Wisman
LW
Leonard
Laurence B
LB
Goffman
Lisa
L
D002663:Child Language; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007806:Language Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D007807:Language Tests; D016013:Likelihood Functions; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods; D010700:Phonetics; D015995:Prevalence; D011336:Probability; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012306:Risk