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From: Nan Bernstein Ratner
Date: 13 Oct 2010
Time: 22:26:06 -0500
Remote Name: 71.178.51.75
There are a number of devices (I wouldn't necessarily call them tests) for this age group. There is a weighted formula (tough to post in this format) developed by Yairi and Ambrose that roughly penalizes blocks and prolongations more than repetitions and factors the number of iterations (number of times something is repeated) to get a numerical score. This score CAN then be compared to a normative base of typical preschool fluency values to justify that someone is outside the normal range for behaviors characterizing stuttering, rather than normal disfluency. Preschoolers can also have affective and cognitive responses to speaking and stuttering that justify both treatment and specific treatment goals. The CAT by Brutten & De Nil is a classic, standardized measure for this, which has recently been adapted downwards for much younger children in preschool, by Gene Brutten and Martine VanRyckeghem (called the KiddyCAT). It is included in their comprehensive program for stuttering assessment and treatment, the BAB (Behavioral Assessment Battery). There are other options, but this is a start. I personally feel it is critical to use normed devices to justify coverage of services by insurers, placement on the caseload in terms of qualifying clients, etc. Nan