PLS-5
The Preschool Language Scale, Fifth Edition (PLS-5) is one of the most important, commonly administered assessment tools for pediatric speech and language pathologists.
The PLS-5 is a play-based assessment that can be used to measure receptive and expressive language skills in children from birth through 7 years 11 months-old. PLS-5 is a comprehensive, reliable test that allows speech therapists to identify expressive and receptive language delays and disorders.
Using the PLS-5 as an assessment tool can also assist speech-language pathologists with developing an individualized treatment plan for clients. Periodic reassessment with the PLS-5 can provide an objective measure of a client’s progress towards goals in speech therapy.
Follow along for a comprehensive guide to the PLS-5. We’ll cover information about the objectives of the assessment, administration, scoring and interpretation. We’ll also discuss how to tailor speech therapy intervention based on the results of the PLS-5.
What does the PLS-5 test for?
The 5th edition of the Preschool Language Scale was published in 2011 and is the most recent edition of this assessment. It was developed by Elizabeth H. Wiig, Wayne A. Secord, and Eleanor Semel.
The objective of the PLS-5 is to assess the language abilities of children aged birth through 7 years, 11 months-old. The assessment yields three scores for assessments of the client’s receptive language, expressive language, and total language.
Within the 2 subtests, Auditory Comprehension and Expressive Communication, the assessment is designed to measure semantics, morphology, syntax, and pragmatics. The PLS-5 also features an Articulation Screener. This can provide valuable information on whether or not a complete articulation assessment is indicated for a client.
Because the assessment is play-based (in addition to picture stimuli), it can also be used to address a wide variety of early play skills, including pretend play, functional play, and relational play.
The PLS-5 assessment is standardized, with a standardization sample that matches the U.S. Census figures for race/ethnicity, region, and level of caregiver education. The assessment is considered a gold-standard in the field of speech language pathology to assess early language skills.
Included in the complete PLS-5 kit is:
- An examiner’s manual
- Administration and scoring manual
- Record forms
- Home questionnaires
- Picture manual (Stimulus book)
- Complete manipulatives kit in an opaque box with a lid (including rattles, cups, bowls, spoons, a washcloth, cars, a ball, wind up toys, a squeaky duck, a washable plastic bear, comb, box of crayons, pitcher, children’s books, and blocks)
The PLS-5 is available in English and in Spanish. Therefore, it can be administered with children who are bilingual.
Although a digital form of the PLS-5 is not available, the publisher, Pearson Assessments, offers a guide that outlines how to use this assessment in telepractice. While scores may not be reported, the assessment can be used to gain valuable information about a child’s language skills.
How to administer the PLS-5
It is crucial for speech therapists to have a thorough understanding of how to conduct the PLS-5 assessment. This will help ensure the test yields accurate and reliable results.
Procedures for administration
The therapist should start by thoroughly familiarizing themself with the PLS-5 examiner’s manual and instructions. The clinician should note the basal and ceiling rules for the assessment.
The therapist will calculate the chronological age of the client, adjusting for prematurity if this applies. The starting point for each of the 2 subtests should then be identified.
To improve the ease and efficiency of administering the test, the SLP should become familiar with the manipulatives included in the kit as well.
When it comes time to administer the PLS-5, the SLP will start at the entry point calculated for the client’s age and follow the instructions in the record form. For certain items that are primarily listed in the earlier ages, a score of 0 (incorrect) or 1 (correct) can be calculated based on whether the skill was observed, elicited, or reported on by the caregiver.
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Testing environment
Creating a conducive testing environment is crucial for yielding accurate results. The clinician can follow best practices in this regard by minimizing distractions, maintaining a warm and welcoming atmosphere, and displaying a supportive demeanor with the child.
Potential challenges
Due to the nature of the age range that the PLS-5 can be administered with, challenges with client behaviors may arise. Children can show refusals or reluctance to participate.
SLPs can address these challenges by establishing a rapport through informal play prior to administration of the test, using motivating techniques, or providing breaks when necessary.
It’s important for the clinician to demonstrate a balance of following testing procedures while also remaining flexible throughout administration of the test.
Therapists should also inquire with the client’s caregivers about whether they feel that the client’s behavior during the assessment is an accurate reflection of their typical behavior. This way, the therapist can describe that information when reporting on test results through documentation.
Interpreting PLS-5 Results
Scoring criteria and interpretation guidelines
The clinician will calculate a raw score for each of the 2 subtests; the Receptive Language and Expressive Communication sections.
Using the examiner’s manual, the SLP will look for the normative table for the client’s current age, and use this to yield a standard score, percentile rank, and age equivalent for each subtest.
Analyzing receptive and expressive language skills
The client’s PLS-5 scores can help the clinician understand where the child’s language abilities stand compared to their peers.
In order to analyze the child’s language skills, the clinician will look at the missed items within each subtest to determine the child’s areas of difficulty, and the items scored correctly as skills the child demonstrates.
For example, certain missed items on the expressive communication subtest might inform the clinician that the client has difficulty formulating present progressive verbs or using plural nouns.
Specific missed items on the auditory comprehension can indicate, for example, that the client has an impaired ability to follow directions without gestural cues.
Skills involved in test items that the client scored correctly on can be considered strengths. These should be considered when planning treatment goals and activities.
Tailoring speech therapy interventions with PLS-5
Speech therapists can use the information yielded from the PLS-5 results to tailor interventions for addressing specific language deficits in children.
For example, if a child shows weakness in vocabulary through difficulty naming a variety of familiar pictures, therapy sessions may target improving vocabulary skills. This could be through strategies such as offering choices, reading age-appropriate books, and singing songs.
First, the SLP can develop clear and measurable therapy goals. These goals should address the client’s specific areas of difficulty identified on the assessment results, in addition to other information obtained within the SLP’s comprehensive language evaluation.
The speech therapist can then select language-rich, evidence-based intervention strategies that align with these goals. This might include specific strategies designed to improve vocabulary, grammar, expanding utterance length, following directions, and comprehension of age-appropriate concepts.
If the child scores below the criterion on the Articulation Screener, the SLP may consider administering a separate, complete articulation assessment such as the Goldman Fristoe Test of Articulation - 3rd Edition (GFTA-3).
Expressive and receptive language skills can be targeted through motivating, play-based intervention activities. The clinician might engage in completing a puzzle with the clinician, offering choices in which item the client wants in order to help increase his or her expressive vocabulary.
Advances and future trends in Language Assessment including PLS-5
Language assessments continue to evolve as technology advances. These advances have the potential to enhance an SLP’s assessment and intervention with clients who have expressive and receptive language delays, including the early intervention (birth through 3 years) population.
Standardized tests used by SLPs continue to be developed in a digital form. This is likely to occur with language assessments, which will allow speech therapists to administer the tests over telepractice or in person with the use of a tablet.
The continued emergence of speech recognition tools will allow clinicians to more accurately and efficiently score tests such as articulation screeners.
There is also likely to be updates to assessment tools that incorporate cultural and linguistic diversity. This can ensure a thorough, representative evaluation of language skills within a diverse population.
The Preschool Language Scale - 5th Edition (PLS-5) is an invaluable tool for SLPs working with preschool-aged children with expressive and/or receptive language disorders. It is considered to be one of the most comprehensive language assessments to be used with the pediatric population.
The results of the PLS-5 can be used to guide the development of an individualized treatment plan. Clinicians can provide effective interventions by targeting areas of difficulty from the PLS-5 as therapy goals. Strengths on the assessment can be incorporated into therapy activities to support working on goals.
Resources
Speech therapists can use TheraPlatform for additional helpful, current resources on a variety of topics related to their practice. TheraPlatform, an all-in-one EHR, practice management and teletherapy tool specifically for therapists, also allows therapists to manage several other aspects of their practice, from financial organization to scheduling. Consider starting with a free trial of TheraPlatform today. No credit card required and cancel anytime.
More resources
- Therapy resources and worksheets
- Therapy private practice courses
- Ultimate teletherapy ebook
- The Ultimate Insurance Billing Guide for Therapists
- The Ultimate Guide to Starting a Private Therapy Practice
