Accuracy of the Core Language Score of the CELF P2 UK in Identifying Language Delay in Children from a Disadvantaged Community in Ireland

Abstract

Objective:

To determine if the Core Language Screen, a widely-used language screening tool, accurately identifies language delay in children from a disadvantaged community.

Method:

Participants were 234 children with mean age 4;07 years attending primary and preschools in a city area designated as disadvantaged in the south of Ireland. Participants were assessed on the CLS (screen) and full CELF-P2UK (gold standard) test. Sensitivity and specificity levels of the CLS were calculated.

Main results:

In total, 73 (31%) children had language delay on the CELF P2^UK but of this group 34 (47%) passed the CLS screen. This gives the CLS a low sensitivity level of 0.53. In contrast, only one child with normal language failed the screen. This gives the CLS an excellent specificity level of 0.99. The results revealed an unusual profile of weaker receptive compared to expressive skills in all children, although it was particularly evident in those with language delay.

Conclusion:

The CLS failed to identify almost half the group with delays and therefore is not an accurate language screening tool for clinical or research purposes. Further research is needed to investigate not only the poor identification accuracy of the CLS but also the children’s unusual profile of weaker receptive and stronger expressive language skills.