Speech Therapy 
Test of Narrative Language-2
Test of Narrative Language - 2nd Edition (TNL-2) is a norm-referenced assessment tool that measures a child’s narrative language abilities. Narrative language skills involve an individual’s ability to tell or retell a story, and are an important aspect of communication.
Children’s narrative abilities have been linked to later academic achievement, listening comprehension skills, receptive vocabulary, and writing. They are critical for supporting a child’s overall academic and social success.
As children grow, narrative language skills become an important aspect of the individual’s ability to communicate with others within professional contexts.
Speech-language pathologists can help support children’s narrative language abilities by providing early intervention that targets the skills involved, such as understanding story grammar, retelling, and sequencing.
A thorough assessment serves as the basis of an effective intervention plan in speech therapy.
Let’s examine the Test of Narrative Language by diving into an explanation of the components of the assessment, its purpose, advantages and challenges of using the test, and some specialized administration tips for SLPs.
What is the Test of Narrative Language - 2 (TNL-2)
The Test of Narrative Language - 2nd Edition (TNL-2) is a standardized test that assesses important aspects of a child’s ability to understand and tell stories (narrative language abilities).
The Test of Narrative Language can be administered to children between the ages of 5 and 15 years 11 months, and takes approximately 15 to 20 minutes.
Some of the key components and domains assessed by the TNL-2 include:
- Story grammar: The basic structure of a narrative text. Rules for describing features in stories, such as the parts of the story, and how they are arranged.
- Cohesion: How the components of a narrative are bound together and work together as a whole.
- Mental state verbs: Words that describe one’s thoughts and feelings (i.e., tired, love, good, hurt).
- Macrostructure: Refers to story elements, sequence of events, problem, resolution and conclusion.
A thorough examination of narrative language skills, the Test of Narrative Language serves as a valuable tool for speech therapists to use in diagnosing narrative language disorders. The test allows SLPs to identify a child’s specific areas of strengths and difficulties, enabling targeted interventions to improve the child’s narrative language skills.
Benefits and advantages of using the Test of Narrative Language in speech therapy
The Test of Narrative Language offers many advantages to speech therapists assessing a client’s narrative language skills.
One primary benefit is that the TNL-2 provides a comprehensive evaluation of narrative language skills in children and adolescents. The test allows clinicians to assess critical aspects of narrative language skills without having to transcribe children’s stories. This offers time-saving benefits to the clinician.
The TNL-2 helps clinicians identify specific areas of difficulty in narrative language abilities. Therapists can tailor therapy interventions based on the Test of Narrative Language results in order to enhance storytelling and comprehension skills.
Improving narrative language skills through targeted interventions in speech therapy can lead to improvements in a child’s academic performance and social interactions. Studies have shown that narrative-based language intervention has the potential to positively impact related cognitive skills, such as working memory.
Strengths identified through areas on the test that a child scores at or above age-level can be incorporated into tasks and strategies used in speech therapy. Through this, SLPs can create unique therapy interventions based on the TNL-2 results to improve an individual’s narrative language skills.
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Challenges and considerations for the TNL-2 Assessment
Speech therapists should be aware of certain challenges and considerations when administering the Test of Narrative Language.
Cultural differences exist in narrative structure. Examiners must keep cultural and linguistic factors such as these in mind when assessing narrative language skills in children and adolescents. This can lead to a more accurate, comprehensive assessment.
Building rapport and ensuring a comfortable environment for clients during the assessment process can ease anxiety or stress the client may have. Through this, the SLP can obtain a more accurate representation of the client’s true narrative language abilities.
Therapists should also collaborate with educators and other professionals working with the client to complete a truly holistic evaluation and understand contextual challenges that may present. This collaborative approach can ensure a deeper, more comprehensive understanding of the client’s narrative language skills across different environments.
Finally, it’s important to keep in mind that children with narrative language impairments may come from diverse backgrounds and have a range of communication styles. Speech therapists can accommodate for this by reviewing a client’s history prior to the assessment, and adapting assessment methods to fit the child’s needs.
Tips for speech therapists using the TNL-2
Before administering the TNL-2, therapists should be aware of a few helpful tips.
Therapists should receive proper training in administering the TNL-2. ASHA certified speech-language pathologists can familiarize themselves with the test items. Examiners should review testing procedures in the TILLS examiner’s manual to improve their knowledge and familiarity with the assessment before administering it.
The examiner should be sure to have all of the materials included in the TNL-2 assessment present, including:
- Examiner’s manual
- Picture book
- Examiner record booklet
Other important tips to keep in mind are:
- Use cultural sensitivity
- Maintain open communication with parents, educators, and others working with the child
- Tailor interventions based on the specific TNL-2 results
The Test of Narrative Language Skills - 2nd Edition (TNL-2) is a valuable tool for assessing narrative language skills in children and adolescents. The results of the TNL-2 allow speech therapists to develop a unique treatment plan to target narrative language abilities and measure the outcomes of therapy.
Proficient narrative language skills are essential for an individual’s success in academic and social environments. Beginning intervention with a comprehensive assessment such as the TNL-2 allows therapists to take a comprehensive approach to narrative language intervention, improving a child’s ability to communicate in a variety of contexts.
Resources
Therapists can refer to 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, 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.
References
Pauls, L., Archibald, L. (2021). Cognitive and linguistic effects of narrative-based language intervention in children with Developmental Language Disorder. Autism and Developmental Language Impairments. DOI: 10.1177/23969415211015867
Spencer, T., Petersen, D. (2020). Narrative intervention: principles to practice. Language, Speech, and Hearing Sciences in Schools, 51(4). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1044/2020_LSHSS-20-00015
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