Test of Abstract Language Comprehension

The Test of Abstract Language Comprehension (TALC) is an assessment that looks at children’s understanding of abstract language through verbal reasoning. It is used by the speech and language therapist to identify what types of questions and abstract language your child may be struggling with. The assessment can be used with children from the age of 2+.

Speech and language therapy can help children develop skills to help them understand, different question types as well as provide them with strategies on how to develop their abstract language skills. Our speech and language therapists use the information from the assessment to create an individualised therapy programme that improves your child’s difficulties.

• Identifies difficulties with abstract language and questions.
• Indicates how to modify language to best suit the child’s needs.
• Can be used to set targets to encourage development of abstract reasoning skills.

The Test of Abstract Language Comprehension can be used by speech and language therapists to assess your child’s understanding of concrete and abstract language through different style questions. The information gained from the assessment can be used to create an individualised therapy programme as well as be used to tailor specific personalised advice for parents and teachers on how best to communicate with your child.

Find out more…

• What will the Test of Abstract Language Comprehension assess?
• Why is a Test of Abstract Language Comprehension needed?
• Typical conditions that require a Test of Abstract Language Comprehension
• What information will I receive following a Test of Abstract Language Comprehension?
• Treatment following a Test of Abstract Language Comprehension
• Summary

The Test of Abstract Language Comprehension assess children’s comprehensions skills. Children’s understanding of abstract language is tested through their use of verbal reasoning. Children are asked questions about pictures or sequences they are shown. The questions follow Blanks language scheme (1978). Children start their language development through learning about concrete and fixed items, as their language develops children's understanding of certain words and concepts becomes more abstract. Blank suggests 4 levels for questioning starting from concrete questions relating to the here and now to more abstract questions that requires higher level thinking and knowledge and experience.

Level 1 - age 2-3

Questions relate to the immediate environment and require the child to think concretely e.g.

• What is this
• What is it doing?
• What can you see
• Is it a ……

Level 2 – age 3-4

Involves children to do some analysis:

• Classifying
• Grouping
• Describing e.g. what is happening in the picture?
• Understanding the function of some objects e.g. find something that cuts

Level 3 – age 4-5

Requires the child use their own knowledge to:

• Make basic level predications e.g. what will happen next?
• Assume the role of somebody else e.g. how do you think he feels?
• Make generalisations
• To start to develop higher level thinking

Level 4 – age 5+

Involves the child to have the ability to think about the future and their past to be able to:

• Problem solve
• Predict e.g. what will happen if?
• Find solutions e.g. what should we do now?
• Identify causations- how did that happen?
• Give explanations- how can we tell someone is sad?

Children who have concrete thinking often struggle with concepts and words that aren’t physically present, or have one specific meaning or explanation, or can change. Children can have a literal understanding and a specific view point. Children can often struggle to understand what is being said, what people mean by what they have said and assume situations and thoughts. This can impact certain aspects of social and academic development. As children grow older the curriculum in school requires them to think in a more abstract manner.

Below are some of the common conditions the Test of Abstract Language Comprehension is used for:

• Aphasia
• Acquired head / brain injury
• Autism spectrum disorder
• High-functioning autism
• Learning disability
• Down's syndrome
• Stroke
• Developmental delay

Our speech and language therapists help all children who have difficulties with understanding abstract language including children who have been diagnosed with a condition or difficulty as well as those children who have not yet been diagnosed or identified with a particular condition. Our speech and language therapists aim to work with you and your child to create a unique therapy programme that is specific to your child’s difficulties, and includes their motivators and goals.

After your child has completed the Test of Abstract Language Comprehension our speech and language therapists can provide you with a summary of what the assessment found. After an assessment you can request a detailed report about the information gained during the assessment. The report will explain how the difficulties may impact your child’s understanding of everyday spoken language, how the difficulties may impact their communication skills. Our speech and language therapists will also provide recommendations on how to improve your child’s language skills as well as a therapy plan in the report.

Some of the available language therapy treatments are listed below:

• Receptive language therapy
• Language group

• Training, advice, support and strategies for parents, teachers and other professionals.

We offer a wide range of treatments, if you feel that your child could benefit from a certain therapy programme contact our speech and language therapist for more details. Email office@sltforkids.co.uk or call us on 0330 088 2298.

The Test of Abstract Language Comprehension is used by the speech and language therapist to assess children’s understanding of abstract language, to determine the level of difficulty.

Our speech and language therapist will assess your child’s receptive language abilities and identify where their difficulties lie. The information gained from the assessment will be used by our speech and language therapist to create your child’s unique therapy programme. If you would like more information on the assessment please email office@sltforkids.co.uk or call on 0330 088 2298.