Validity Evidence for the LittlEARS Early Speech Production Questionnaire: An English-Speaking, Canadian Sample

J Speech Lang Hear Res. 2019 Oct 25;62(10):3667-3678. doi: 10.1044/2019_JSLHR-L-18-0411. Epub 2019 Sep 16.

Abstract

Purpose This study reports validity evidence for an English translation of the LittlEARS Early Speech Production Questionnaire (LEESPQ). The LEESPQ was designed to support early spoken language outcome monitoring in young children who are deaf/hard of hearing. Methods Data from 90 children with normal hearing, ages 0-18 months, are reported. Parents completed the LEESPQ in addition to a concurrent measure of spoken language development, the Receptive-Expressive Emergent Language Test-Third Edition. Normal hearing status and development were confirmed. Results Traditional scale analyses, in addition to item parameters, are reported. The LEESPQ was highly correlated with the Receptive-Expressive Emergent Language Test-Third Edition (r = .92) and age (r = .90) and had high internal consistency (Ω = 0.92). Common factor analysis revealed 2 underlying factors conceptually mapping onto items measuring vocal and symbolic development. A latent traits model was the best fit to the data, and item difficulty broadly conformed to theoretical expectations. Conclusions The present work demonstrates that the LEESPQ accurately captures early spoken language development in a typically developing group of young children. The LEESPQ holds promise as a clinically feasible, spoken language outcome monitoring tool. Future work to identify differences in performance characteristics between typically developing children and clinical populations is warranted.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Validation Study

MeSH terms

  • Canada
  • Child Language*
  • Feasibility Studies
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Language
  • Language Development Disorders / diagnosis*
  • Language Tests / standards*
  • Latent Class Analysis
  • Male
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Speech Production Measurement / standards*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires / standards*
  • Translations