Read each sentence of the checklist. Put a check mark in the "Yes" column next to each warning signal that applies to your child. Add up all the "Yes" marks to obtain a score.
 

Compared to other children my childs age, my child demonstrates difficulty organizing words into sentences after age 5 (e.g., Child uses 'Who name?" instead of Whats your name?"; Child uses "He go to him school" instead of "He is going to his school").

Compared to other children my childs age, my child demonstrates difficulty understanding speech (e.g., stories, conversations, television programs).

Compared to other children my childs age, my child demonstrated prolonged or repeated ear infections in the first five years of life.

Compared to other children my childs age, my child shifts from task to task and/or has difficulty waiting for his/her turn (e.g., Child appears to be impatient and/or interrupts).

Compared to other children my childs age, my child demonstrates problems staying seated or standing in one place (i.e., Child has a short attention span, is impulsive and/or seems overactive).

Compared to other children my childs age, my child demonstrates difficulty following directions (e.g., "Put your shoes away and hang up your coat.").

Compared to other children my childs age, my child demonstrates difficulty recalling and retelling events and stories (i.e., The story is out of order or is missing important information).

Compared to other children my childs age, my child demonstrates difficulty telling and understanding jokes (i.e., Child does not laugh at appropriate times).

Compared to other children my childs age, my child demonstrates speech that includes a lot of hesitations (e.g., "Um...um..."; "you know") and/or he/she tends to beat around the bush.

Compared to other children my childs age, my child demonstrates difficulty staying on topic! in conversations (e.g., When you are talking about swimming, your child starts talking about hockey.).

Compared to other children my childs age, my child demonstrates difficulty making and keeping friends (e.g., Other children avoid playing with him/her at recess.).

Compared to other children my childs age, my child demonstrates difficulty following the rules and activities of the classroom (e.g., Teacher reports that your child is disruptive in the classroom.).

Compared to other children my childs age, my child demonstrates difficulty reading at his/her age level.

Compared to other children my childs age, my child demonstrates difficulty organizing his/her ideas into a written form (e.g., The teacher reports that the childs journal is not at the level of his/her classmates.).

Compared to other children my childs age, my child demonstrates a lot more difficulty in Grade 3 than he/she has had in previous grades.

SCORE (Total Number of Yes answers)
 

What Does the Score Mean?

If the score is 0, your childs communication skills are within the normal range for a child his/her age.

If the score is 1 to 4, watch your child to see if any of the other warning signals appear in the future. Please take a checklist with you and contact your childs teacher(s) to see if he/she has noticed any of these warning signals in the classroom. If more warning signals appear in the near future or if the teacher feels there is a significant difficulty, contact a Speech-Language Pathologist.

If the score falls between 5 and 15, it is strongly recommended that your child be checked by a Speech-Language Pathologist. You may wish to contact your childs teacher(s) to see if he/she has noticed any of the warning signals in the classroom.

SOURCE: Helping Kids Discover and Develop Language by H. Emrich, D, Paliania, K. Prescott, D. Waselenko, G. Warr-Leeper.