Internet-Based Telehealth Assessment of Language Using the CELF–4
Author(s)
Waite, Monique
G. Theodoros, Deborah
G. Russell, Trevor
M. Cahill, Louise
Griffith University Author(s)
Year published
2010
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Purpose: 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. Method: 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 ...
View more >Purpose: 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. Method: 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. Conclusion: The results of this study support the validity and reliability of scoring the core language subtests of the CELF-4 via telehealth.
View less >
View more >Purpose: 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. Method: 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. Conclusion: The results of this study support the validity and reliability of scoring the core language subtests of the CELF-4 via telehealth.
View less >
Journal Title
Language, Speech and Hearing Services in Schools
Volume
41
Subject
Clinical Sciences not elsewhere classified
Specialist Studies in Education not elsewhere classified
Clinical Sciences
Specialist Studies in Education