title: Using dynamic assessment to evaluate the expressive syntax of children who use augmentative and alternative communication.
abstract: The developmental readiness of four 5-year-old children to produce basic sentences using graphic symbols on an augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) device during a dynamic assessment (DA) task was examined. Additionally, the ability of the DA task to predict performance on a subsequent experimental task was evaluated. A graduated prompting framework was used during DA. Measures included amount of support required to produce the targets, modifiability (change in participant performance) within a DA session, and predictive validity of DA. Participants accurately produced target structures with varying amounts of support. Modifiability within DA sessions was evident for some participants, and partial support was provided for the measures of predictive validity. These initial results indicate that DA may be a viable way to measure young children's developmental readiness to learn how to sequence simple, rule-based messages via aided AAC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences, University of New Mexico , Albuquerque, New Mexico , USA.
authors.forename: Marika R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: King
authors.forename: Cathy
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Binger
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kent-Walsh
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D003143:Communication Devices for People with Disabilities; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D007807:Language Tests; D008297:Male; D013064:Speech Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000534:rehabilitation
keywords: Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC); Dynamic assessment (DA); Graduated prompting; Grammar; Syntax