Preschool Language Scale- Fifth Edition

Instrument Name: Preschool Language Scale- Fifth Edition

Abbreviation: PLS-5

Points for Consideration:

This is the most frequently used tool clinically for standardized language assessment in young children. Useful for baseline characterization; it is almost impossible to have it reflect the changes associated with an intervention. No separation of vocabulary/grammar and thus less useful once children develop consistent phrase speech in terms of characterization. Normed on a broad patient population. Allows for assessment over a broad age range, so able to track over time. Breaks skills down into receptive and expressive, functional questions. Significant lack of psychometrics on this version.

Description of Tool:

Preschool Language Scale- Fifth Edition is a ClinRO + PerfO + ObsRO developed to measure receptive and expressive language skills in children aged birth to 7 years and 11 months (Language Development Disorders).

Minimum Qualification Required by COA Administrator: MA or BA

Comment:

The PLS has undergone several revisions since it was first published in 1969
It is comprised of two subscales: auditory comprehension and expressive communication

Year: 2011

Objective of Development:

To measure young children’s receptive and expressive language skills

Population of Development: Age range (therapeutic indication):

Birth to 7 years and 11 months (Language Development Disorders)

Pediatric Population(s) in which COA has been used:

Female Urogenital Diseases and Pregnancy Complications ; Otorhinolaryngologic Diseases ; Nervous System Diseases ; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms ; Neoplasms ; Congenital, Hereditary, and Neonatal Diseases and Abnormalities ; Musculoskeletal Diseases ; Hemic and Lymphatic Diseases ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Endocrine System Diseases ; Male Urogenital Diseases ; Stomatognathic Diseases ; Mental disorders ; Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases ; Wounds and Injuries ; Infections

COA type:

Number of Items Not reported

Mode of Administration:

Data Collection Mode:

Time for Completion: 45-60 min

Response Scales: Dichotomous 0" Incorrect" / 1 "Correct"

Summary of Scoring:

Available Scores:
Other:
Auditory Comprehension Scores: Raw scores can be converted in Standard Score, Confidence interval, percentile rank, percentile rank interval values and age equivalent
Expression Communication Scores: Raw scores can be converted in Standard Score, Confidence interval, Percentile rank, Percentile rank interval values and Age equivalent
Sum of the auditory comprehension and expression communications standard scores can be converted in total Language Standard, Confidence interval, Percentile rank, Percentile rank interval values scores
Sum of the auditory comprehension and expression communications raw scores can be converted in Total Languages Age Equivalent Score

Weighting:
No

Score Direction:
Higher score = Better receptive and expressive language skills

Evidence of Literature Review: None identified

Evidence of Instrument Review: Yes

Evidence of Clinical or Expert Input: Yes

Evidence of concept elicitation in target patient population: None identified

Evidence of a Saturation Grid: None identified

Evidence for Selection of Data Collection Method: None identified

Recall/Observation Period:

Evidence for Selection of Reponse Options: None identified

Evidence of cognitive interviewing of draft instrument in target patient population: None identified

Evidence of Preliminary Scoring of Items and Domains: None identified

Evidence related to respondent and administrator burden: None identified

Evidence of a Conceptual Framework: None identified

Evidence of an item-tracking matrix: None identified

Evidence related to item selection: None identified

Evidence of re-testing the final version: None identified

Internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha): None identified

Evidence of test-retest or inter-rater reliability: None identified

Concurrent validity (convergent, divergent):

None identified

Known-group validity:

None identified

Evidence of Translatability Assessment: None identified

Evidence related to missing data: None identified

Evidence for Selection of Recall Period: None identified

Evidence of Administration Instructions and Training Provided: Yes

Evidence of concurrent validity: None identified

Evidence of known-groups validity: None identified

Evidence of ability to detect change over time: None identified

Ability to detect change (Responsiveness):

None identified

Responder Thresholds:

None identified

Evidence of responder thresholds: None identified

Zimmerman IL, Steiner VG, Pond RA. The Preschool Language Scale. 5th ed. San Antonio, TX: Pearson. 2011
Abstract:https://www.pearsonassessments.com/store/usassessments/en/Store/Professional-Assessments/Speech-%26-Language/Preschool-Language-Scales-%7C-Fifth-Edition/p/100000233.html?tab=product-details

UK Pearson's PLS-5 webpage
https://www.pearsonclinical.co.uk/AlliedHealth/PaediatricAssessments/Language-CompositeGeneral/pls5/preschool-language-scale-fifth-edition.aspx

See (PubMed results)
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=%22Preschool%20Language%20Scale%22&sort=date

None identified

Original:
English for the USA

Translations:
Turkish
Spanish
(Copy of the Spanish translation can be bought here: https://www.pearsonassessments.com/store/usassessments/en/Store/Professional-Assessments/Speech-%26-Language/Preschool-Language-Scales-%7C-Fifth-Edition-Spanish/p/100000401.html)

Turkish for Turkey
Sahli AS, Belgin E. Adaptation, validity, and reliability of the Preschool Language Scale-Fifth Edition (PLS-5) in the Turkish context: The Turkish Preschool Language Scale-5 (TPLS-5). Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol. 2017 Jul;98:143-149 (PubMed abstract)

Author:
Irla Lee Zimmerman, PhD

Contact:
Pearson Clinical Assessment Website: research.licensing@pearson.com

Copyright:
Pearson holds the copyright

CoU:
For further questions, please contact Pearson Clinical Assessment

USA Pearson's PLS-5 webpage: https://www.pearsonassessments.com/store/usassessments/en/Store/Professional-Assessments/Speech-%26-Language/Preschool-Language-Scales-%7C-Fifth-Edition/p/100000233.html?tab=product-details

UK Pearson's PLS-5 webpage: https://www.pearsonclinical.co.uk/AlliedHealth/PaediatricAssessments/Language-CompositeGeneral/pls5/preschool-language-scale-fifth-edition.aspx

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