Internet-based telehealth assessment of language using the CELF-4.
OBJECTIVE
Telehealth has the potential to improve children's access to speech-language pathology services. Validation of telehealth applications, including the assessment of childhood language disorders, is necessary for telehealth to become an accepted alternative mode of service provision. The aim of this study was to validate an Internet-based telehealth system for assessing childhood language disorders.


METHODS
Twenty-five children ages 5 to 9 years were assessed using the core language subtests of the Clinical Evaluation of Language Fundamentals--4th Edition (CELF-4; Semel, Wiig, & Secord, 2003). Each participant was simultaneously assessed online and face-to-face (FTF). Assessments were administered by either an online or an FTF speech-language pathologist (SLP), but were simultaneously rated by both SLPs.


RESULTS
No significant difference was found between the online and FTF total raw scores and scaled scores for each subtest. Weighted kappas revealed very good agreement on the individual items, total raw scores, scaled scores, core language score, and severity level. Intra- and interrater reliability were determined for a sample of online ratings, with intraclass correlation analysis revealing very good agreement on all measures.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of this study support the validity and reliability of scoring the core language subtests of the CELF-4 via telehealth.
Waite
Monique C
MC
The University of Queensland, Division of Speech Pathology, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia. m.waite@uq.edu.au
Theodoros
Deborah G
DG
Russell
Trevor G
TG
Cahill
Louise M
LM
D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003936:Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D007805:Language Development Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D007807:Language Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D015588:Observer Variation; D019114:Remote Consultation / Q000295:instrumentation*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D014741:Video Recording