Praxis SLP Licensure Exam

Which method is most effective for establishing baseline performance levels in a child with a language delay?

1. Parent interviews

2. Standardized assessments

3. Natural language sample

4. Dynamic assessment

The correct answer is: Natural language sample

Establishing baseline performance levels in a child with a language delay is crucial for developing effective intervention strategies. A natural language sample is particularly effective because it provides a real-world context in which the child uses language naturally. By observing and recording a child’s spontaneous speech in a familiar setting, clinicians can assess various aspects of language use, including vocabulary, sentence structure, and conversational skills. This method allows clinicians to gather rich, qualitative data that reflects the child’s actual communication abilities rather than relying on potentially artificial or constrained responses often seen in standardized assessments or structured tasks. Additionally, natural language samples capture the child's strengths and areas of need in interactive contexts, which can inform targeted interventions that are more aligned with how the child uses language in their daily life. While the other methods—parent interviews, standardized assessments, and dynamic assessments—provide valuable information, they do not offer the same depth of insight into the child's pragmatic language use, contextual language skills, and overall communicative competence as natural language samples do.