posted on 2022-02-23, 05:35authored byStephanie DeAnda, Laura Bosch, Diane Poulin-Dubois, Pascal Zesiger, Margaret Friend
Purpose: The aim of this study was to develop the Language
Exposure Assessment Tool (LEAT) and to examine its
cross-linguistic validity, reliability, and utility. The LEAT is
a computerized interview-style assessment that requests
parents to estimate language exposure. The LEAT yields
an automatic calculation of relative language exposure and
captures qualitative aspects of early language experience.
Method: Relative language exposure as reported on the
LEAT and vocabulary size at 17 months of age were measured
in a group of bilingual language learners with varying levels
of exposure to French and English or Spanish and English.
Results: The LEAT demonstrates high internal
consistency and criterion validity. In addition, the LEAT’s
calculation of relative language exposure explains
variability in vocabulary size above a single overall parent
estimate.
Conclusions: The LEAT is a valid and efficient tool
for characterizing early language experience across
cultural settings and levels of language exposure. The
LEAT could be a useful tool in clinical contexts to aid in
determining whether assessment and intervention should
be conducted in one or more languages.
Funding
This research was supported by National Institutes of Health awards 5R01HD068458 and HD068458-02S1 to the senior author and 1F31HD081933 to the first author and does not necessarily represent the views of the National Institutes of Health. Additional funding was provided by the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (PSI-2011-25376) to the second author and by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (2003–2013) to the third author.