Common Speech-Language Assessments and What They Assess
If your child is being evaluated for speech or language difficulties, you may hear a lot of test names and acronyms that sound overwhelming — CELF-5, CASL-2, GFTA, PLS, and more. These are standardized speech and language assessments that help speech-language pathologists (SLPs) measure your child’s skills compared to other children their age.
While these tools provide valuable information, no single test gives the whole picture. As a parent, it helps to know what each test looks at — and where some of the flaws may be.
At NRC Therapy Services in Monmouth County, NJ, we use a combination of assessments, observations, and parent/teacher input to understand a child’s unique strengths and needs.
Language Assessments
CASL-2 (Comprehensive Assessment of Spoken Language, 2nd Edition)
What it measures: Vocabulary, grammar, sentence structure, pragmatic/social language.
Limitation: Can be long, and not always sensitive to cultural and dialect differences.
CELF-5 (Clinical Evaluation of Language Fundamentals, 5th Edition)
What it measures: Core language skills in school-aged children — word structure, sentence comprehension, following directions, and word definitions.
Limitation: Heavy focus on academic-style language; may not capture real-life communication skills.
CELF-P:3 (Preschool Edition, 3rd Edition)
What it measures: Early language concepts, word structure, and comprehension in preschoolers.
Limitation: Younger children may fatigue quickly, affecting results.
TOLD-P:5 (Test of Language Development – Primary, 5th Edition)
What it measures: Oral language skills such as listening, organizing words, and grammar in younger children.
Limitation: Norms may not fit all populations; test can feel repetitive for kids.
TOLD-I (Test of Language Development – Intermediate)
What it measures: Similar to TOLD-P but for older children; evaluates grammar, vocabulary, and sentence combining.
Limitation: May not capture higher-level language or executive function weaknesses.
PLS-5 (Preschool Language Scales, 5th Edition)
What it measures: Early communication, play skills, comprehension, and expression in infants and preschoolers.
Limitation: Play-based format is fun, but scores may overestimate skills if a child is especially social.
SPeLT-3 (Structured Photographic Expressive Language Test, 3rd Edition)
What it measures: Expressive grammar and sentence formulation using pictures.
Limitation: Focuses narrowly on grammar, not overall communication.
SPeLT-P:2 (Preschool Edition, 2nd Edition)
What it measures: Preschoolers’ grammar and sentence use in pictures.
Limitation: Doesn’t capture vocabulary, comprehension, or social use of language.
Language Processing Test – 3
What it measures: How children understand and process language concepts (e.g., categories, attributes, similarities).
Limitation: Can feel “academic” and may not reflect natural conversation skills.
OPUS (Oral Passage Understanding Scale)
What it measures: Listening comprehension of spoken passages.
Limitation: Doesn’t measure expressive language, only comprehension.
Speech Assessments
Arizona-4 (Arizona Articulation and Phonology Scale)
What it measures: Speech sound production (articulation and phonological errors).
Limitation: Focuses on sounds, not connected speech or overall intelligibility.
GFTA-3 (Goldman-Fristoe Test of Articulation, 3rd Edition)
What it measures: Speech sound production in words and sentences.
Limitation: Doesn’t account for accent, dialect, or connected conversation.
SSI-4 (Stuttering Severity Instrument)
What it measures: Frequency, duration, and physical behaviors associated with stuttering.
Limitation: Captures severity at one moment in time — stuttering often fluctuates.
What Parents Should Know
These tests are just one piece of the puzzle. An SLP also looks at classroom performance, play, social communication, and family input.
Standardized tests have limits. They may not reflect bilingual skills, cultural differences, or everyday communication abilities.
Scores don’t define your child. A “below average” score signals an area to support, not a fixed ability.
Speech & Language Evaluations in Monmouth County, NJ
At NRC Therapy Services, we provide comprehensive speech and language evaluations for children across Belmar, Wall, Manasquan, Spring Lake, and surrounding Monmouth County towns. Our approach goes beyond the test scores — we use multiple tools, observations, and parent input to create an accurate picture of your child’s communication skills.
If your child is scheduled for testing, or you’re worried about their speech or language, contact NRC Therapy Services today to learn more about evaluations and therapy options in Monmouth County.