Test of Expressive Language
The Test of Expressive Language (TEXL) is an assessment used to measure a child’s verbal expressive language abilities.
The TEXL assesses a child’s ability to produce English language forms in 3 main categories: Vocabulary, Grammatical morphemes, and Elaborated Phrases and Sentences. TEXL is administered to children ages 3 to 12 years 11 months.
Speech Language Pathologists (SLPs) can administer the TEXL to evaluate and monitor a child’s verbal expressive language skills. By analyzing the results, SLPs can identify a child’s strengths and difficulties and create an individualized treatment plan to address a child’s expressive language disorder. SLPs can also use the TEXL assessment to monitor a child’s progress in therapy.
The TEXL assessment is a valuable assessment used by SLPs to identify spoken expressive language disorders and guide evidence-based intervention. We will dive into the components of the TEXL, the administration, scoring, and interpretation of the assessment, and some important considerations to make.
Overview of Expressive Language Assessment
A reliable language and valid expressive language assessment allows an SLP to accurately identify a spoken Expressive Language Disorder.
Through accurate interpretation of the results of a standardized assessment, speech therapists determine specific areas of strengths and difficulties within a client’s expressive language skills.
By completing a thorough expressive language assessment, the SLP can develop an individualized treatment plan and monitor a client’s progress. They can also use the results when collaborating with parents, teachers, and other professionals working with the client.
Expressive Language Development in children is composed of several domains, including:
- Vocabulary: The ability to use a variety of words appropriately.
- Grammar & Syntax: Applying grammatical rules to form complete sentences.
- Morphology: The formation of words by applying rules (such as adding prefixes) to reflect word meaning or grammatical function of a word.
- Pragmatics: The ability to use language for social purposes.
- Narrative Skills: How a child uses words to tell a coherent story (by sequencing, describing, and organizing information correctly).
- Metalinguistic Skills: How an individual talks about language itself (including the ability to correct errors when speaking).
Speech therapists play a role in evaluating a child’s expressive language skills. By conducting an evaluation using tools such as the TEXL assessment, the SLP can identify and diagnose the presence of an Expressive Language Disorder.
Through weekly speech therapy sessions, SLPs are skilled in applying evidence-based treatment techniques to improve a child’s expressive language skills by targeting their specific areas of need.
Understanding the TEXL Assessment
The TEXL is a reliable and valid measure of a child’s expressive spoken language ability. The TEXL is a companion to the Test for Auditory Comprehension of Language - Fourth Edition (TACL-4). To assess a child’s language abilities across expressive and receptive language domains, both tests can be given.
The TEXL is given to children ages 3 to 12 years 11 months and takes approximately 20 to 30 minutes.
The TEXL consists of 3 subtests that measure a child’s ability to produce English language forms in the following categories:
- Vocabulary: Nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, and other word classes representing various concepts.
- Grammatical morphemes: Words that mark certain functions (pronouns, prepositions, etc.) and inflections (i.e., verb tenses, noun-verb agreement, etc.)
- Elaborated Phrases and Sentences: Construction of elaborated phrases and sentences.
The clinician reads a stimulus aloud (a word or sentence) about a corresponding picture plate shown to the client. The client answers a question, completes a sentence, or combines sentences. Test items are presented in order of difficulty and the clinician follows the entry points, basal, and ceiling rules as provided for each subtest.
To score the TEXL, the clinician calculates the client’s raw score for each of the three subtests. The clinician then refers to the Examiner’s Manual to calculate the client’s percentile rank, index score, and descriptive term for each subtest.
If the clinician administers the TEXL and the TACL-4 to the same client, they can combine these scores to yield a comprehensive measure of oral language abilities. This is done by using the TACL-4/TEXL Comprehensive Scoring Supplement.
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Interpreting TEXL results
The client’s composite of the three subtests yields an Expressive Language Index (ELI) standard score that is used as an interpretation of a child’s overall expressive language ability. A score between 90 to 109 is within the normal range for a child.
By looking at a child’s ELI and their index scores on the three individual subtests on the TEXL, the SLP can report on whether a child’s expressive language skills are delayed. The clinician can also specify the area(s) of delays and provide a severity rating (e.g.: mild, moderate, severe).
Clinicians must look at a client’s strengths and weaknesses on the TEXL Assessment. This allows therapists to identify areas of strength and difficulties, keeping in mind that many components of expressive language development are interconnected.
Therapists can identify a child’s strengths by determining which areas within expressive language abilities the client scored within normal limits. Subtests in which the child scored below normal, or individual test items that were scored as incorrect can be considered weaknesses. These areas can be used to formulate goals for intervention planning.
Application of TEXL in speech-language therapy
SLPs can examine the results of the TEXL Assessment to identify the presence of an expressive language delay or disorder.
Index scores and standard scores are to determine the severity rating for a possible diagnosis of an Expressive Language Disorder. The ICD-10 code, F80.1 is used to specify this medical diagnosis.
The child’s performance on individual subtests of the TEXL is analyzed to determine a child’s skills in each area; vocabulary, grammar, and narrative skills. Areas of difficulty can be developed into goals for the SLP to target in speech therapy sessions.
By comparing the results of an initial administration of the TEXL Assessment with future administrations, therapists can monitor a client’s progress toward goals. These results can also assist with evaluating the outcomes of interventions used during speech therapy.
Strategies for using TEXL in speech-language therapy
Speech therapists can utilize the results of a client’s performance on the TEXL Assessment to create an individualized treatment plan for the child. Areas of difficulty (subtests where a child scores below average or missed test items) can be correlated with specific expressive language skills that the therapist can target as goals.
A client’s strengths are considered when the SLP develops an individualized intervention plan. This can help the clinician develop specific strategies to use with the child in therapy.
For example, if a client demonstrates age-appropriate vocabulary skills, the clinician can use words and materials when targeting their ability to correctly use grammatical morphemes.
When targeting areas of difficulty from the TEXL as therapy goals, Speech therapists are encouraged to follow best practices by incorporating evidence-based intervention strategies. These are found through academic databases like PubMed, ASHA, research journals, and through collaboration with peers.
Collaboration and communication with educators and parents
SLPs collaborate on the results of a client’s TEXL assessment with others in the interdisciplinary team including parents, educators, and other therapists or professionals working with the child.
The assessment results are shared with the child’s school team so they can be taken into account when planning for any special modifications or areas to target during interventions at school. For example, the team may want to consider the results when meeting to develop the child’s IEP.
Speech therapists can provide parents with home-based language enrichment activities. This way, the child can continue practicing and developing their expressive language skills outside of therapy. Sharing specific activities and techniques can accelerate a client’s progress.
For example, SLPs can encourage parents to work on a specific expressive language goal, like encouraging the child to formulate complete sentences during daily routines. Examples include talking about books after reading aloud or expressing themselves while playing a board game with their family.
Ethical considerations in using TEXL
Speech therapists should maintain cultural sensitivity and diversity when administering and scoring the TEXL Assessment. The clinician should specifically consider a client’s exposure to multiple languages, cultural background, native language, and prior cultural experiences when interpreting the results of the TEXL.
To remain compliant with HIPAA guidelines, assessment data, and results must be kept confidential. Therapists must store record forms with identifying client information in a secure, confidential place and may only discuss results with caregivers or individuals authorized/involved in the child’s care.
To ensure the SLP is adhering to professional standards and guidelines, therapists should only interpret the results of a child’s TEXL assessment to create an individualized treatment plan if they have sufficient experience and training in expressive language disorders.
The TEXL should only be administered once the therapist has adequate training in administration and scoring procedures. Observation of another therapist’s administration of the test, and studying the examiner’s manual can assist with the therapist’s competency in giving the test.
The TEXL is a valuable assessment for evaluating a child’s spoken expressive language skills in 3 key areas. Speech therapists can use the results to identify the presence of an expressive language disorder and to guide intervention by contributing to goal development.
SLPs should stay committed to continued professional development in ways like learning more about some of the most commonly administered speech therapy assessments, such as the TEXL.
Resources
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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
