A Quick Language Screening Test for Young Children: The Token Test

Abstract

The usefulness of a modified version of the Token Test as a quick language screening test is demon strated by comparison of Token Test Scores with Preschool Language Scale (PLS) Scores. Subjects were 90 children ages 31 months to 103 months with a mean age of 66.4 months. High correlations were found between the Token Test and the PLS overall Language Age raw scores (r = .78, p < .01), between the Token Test and PLS Auditory Comprehension raw score (r = .74, p < .01) and between the Token Test and the PLS Verbal Ability raw score (r = .76, p < .01). The Token Test also demonstrated strong agreement with the PLS in identifying children as either normal or language delayed.

These findings indicate that the modified version of the Token Test is a quick, sensitive, and reliable predictor of both receptive and expressive language abilities.

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