OWLS test
OWLS test or The Oral-Written Language Scale, Second Edition (OWLS-II) is an assessment tool that is commonly used by speech-language pathologists. It provides a comprehensive, accurate, and useful picture of an individual’s language skills. This includes expressive and receptive language skills, in addition to reading comprehension and writing skills.
Speech therapy can effectively improve an individual’s communication skills, social interaction, and understanding of language. Enhancing the lives of individuals who face communication challenges through effective speech therapy starts with a comprehensive assessment.
A robust language assessment provides valuable insight into a client’s communication strengths and challenges. Selecting and analyzing the results of an appropriate assessment tool are critical steps. This allows the SLP to identify specific deficit areas, which can aid in making a clinical diagnosis and in developing an effective intervention plan.
In this in-depth guide to the OWLS test, we’ll cover everything you need to know about the OWLS-II. That includes the skills the test examines, benefits and challenges of the assessment, tips for administration, and recommendations on how to apply the results.
Understanding the OWLS test
The OWLS test is a standardized assessment designed for speech language pathologists to evaluate the oral and written language skills of individuals between the ages of 3 and 21 (ages 3-21 for the Oral and Listening Comprehension scales and 5-21 for the Writing and Reading Comprehension scales).
The results can be used to identify and diagnose individuals with language disorders, develop a targeted intervention plan, and monitor a client’s progress.
The first edition of the OWLS assessment was published in 1995. The OWLS-II, published in 2011, includes a new Reading Comprehension scale, as well as additions and revisions designed to enhance the validity of the Written Expression scale. This updated version also features new, culturally balanced artwork and updated norms.
Key components and subtests of the OWLS test
The OWLS-II Listening Comprehension and Oral Expression kit includes an examiner’s manual, a Listening Comprehension Easel, Oral Expression easel, record forms, and the Foundations of Language Assessment handbook.
The Written Expression and Reading Comprehension kit includes an examiner’s manual, written expression response booklets, written expression easel, reading comprehension easel, record forms, and the Foundation of Language Assessment handbook.
The 4 scales included are:
- Listening Comprehension (LC)
- Oral Expression (OE)
- Reading Comprehension (RC)
- Written Expression (WE)
Each of these scales assesses four linguistic structures:
- Lexical/semantics
- Syntax
- Pragmatics
- Supralinguistics
The scales can be administered and utilized separately. However, administering all of the scales will yield a comprehensive score profile. The OWLS test takes approximately 10 to 30 minutes to administer, depending on the client and which section of the test is being administered.
The SLP can follow the OWLS-II examiner’s manual for details on how to administer the assessment. For the Listening Comprehension subtest, for example, the examiner will read a stimulus word aloud. The client will be asked to point to the picture on the stimulus book that depicts the meaning of the word.
Administering the OWLS-II can help guide intervention by identifying specific areas of difficulty, which can be used to develop treatment goals. Areas of strengths that a client demonstrates on the OWLS test can be considered when selecting appropriate treatment materials and strategies to use in therapy.
Using the OWLS test to make a diagnosis
By analyzing a client’s performance on the OWLS test, speech therapists can diagnose language and reading disorders in individuals.
Following administration of the OWLS test, the therapist will use the examiner’s manual to score each section that was administered. The manual will provide a standard score, test-age equivalent, percentile rank, and descriptive label.
The examiner can look at scores for each individual scale separately, or combine them to achieve composite scores.
The 5 composite scores are:
- Oral Language
- Written Language
- Receptive Processing
- Expressive Processing
- Overall Language Processing
SLPs can use the results of the OWLS test to diagnose the following disorders (with these ICD-10 codes) that may correlate to specific areas of difficulties.
- Expressive Language Disorder: F80.1
- Developmental Disorder of Speech and Language, Unspecified: F80.9
- Mixed Receptive-Expressive Language Disorder: F80.2
- Specific Reading Disorder: F81.0
- Disorder of Written Expression: F81.81
More than one of the above diagnoses may be given to an individual.
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Benefits and challenges of OWLS test in speech therapy
The OWLS test offers several benefits to speech-language pathologists working with individuals with expressive and receptive language disorders, as well as reading or writing difficulties.
The assessment presents the option of administering individual scales to specifically assess areas of concerns. Alternatively, the test can be completed in its entirety for a more comprehensive assessment of communication, reading and writing skills,
Another benefit of utilizing the OWLS test is that the results can be used for ongoing progress monitoring. Scores from an initial administration can be compared to future administrations to provide an objective measure of a client’s progress and the effectiveness of therapeutic interventions.
SLPs should keep a few important considerations in mind when utilizing the OWLS test in speech therapy. The accuracy of a client’s performance could be influenced by factors such as cultural bias. Additionally, the complete administration of the OWLS-II may result in testing fatigue including reduced attention or engagement, which can impact the accuracy of a client’s results.
Tips for speech therapists using the OWLS test
Following some specialized tips can help speech therapists efficiently and accurately administer the OWLS-II.
First, examiners should undergo specific training in the procedures involved in administering the OWLS test. Certification such as having a Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC-SLP) in speech language pathology can ensure that the examiner is knowledgeable about the skills being tested.
By establishing a strong rapport with the client, the examiner can create a comfortable and trusting environment during the OWLS test administration. This encourages open communication and can help reduce anxiety, therefore allowing therapists to obtain results that most accurately reflect a client’s true abilities.
The OWLS-II provides a detailed profile of an individual’s language skills. This can be used to customize the client’s intervention plan. The plan can address specific areas of weakness and capitalize on the client’s strengths. By tailoring a therapeutic plan in this way, SLPs can enhance the effectiveness of speech therapy.
Research and advancements in the field of speech and language assessments are constantly growing and evolving. Speech therapists should stay up to date and current, evidence-based practices for assessments by engaging in continuous professional development.
This includes remaining current on any updates that are made to the OWLS-II assessment. Through this, SLPs can utilize the most current, accurate practices in order to optimize therapy outcomes.
The Oral-Written Language Scale, Second Edition (OWLS-II) is a standardized assessment that offers SLPs with an objective measurement of an individual’s oral and written language skills. This can help the therapist in making an accurate diagnosis and creating an effective treatment plan.
Completing accurate assessments such as the OWLS-II is a pivotal role in the therapy process. Gaining a thorough understanding of an individual’s oral and written communication skills is the first step in improving language skills and overall quality of life.
Resources
Therapists can use TheraPlatform, an all-in-one EHR, practice management and teletherapy tool to seamlessly integrate language assessments into their practice. Consider starting with a free trial of TheraPlatform today. No credit card required. Cancel anytime.
References
Denman, D., et. al. (2023). Standardized measures used regularly by speech language pathologists when assessing the language abilities of school-aged children: A survey. Folia Phoniatr Logop, 75 (5): 334-349. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1159/000530718
Fan, S., Ma, B., Song, X., Wang, Y. (2022). Effect of language therapy alone for developmental language disorder in children: A meta-analysis. Frontiers in Psychology, 13. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.922866
More resources
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