CISLL Publications

Author ORCID Identifier

Allison Gladfelter: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2573-2035

Christine Nguyen: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1260-8956

Document Type

Article

Publication Title

Language, Speech, and Hearing Services in Schools

Abstract

Purpose:

Several states' early intervention (EI) eligibility criteria require children to show developmental delay based on age-equivalent (AE) scores. Unfortunately, the use of AE scores to determine eligibility is not empirically supported because they do not account for the normal variability of scores found within the general population. The purpose of this project was to explore the likelihood of eligibility misidentifications based on AE scores rather than using standard scores that incorporate normal population variability.

Method:

Scoring tables from six standardized assessments commonly used for determining EI eligibility were digitally converted and analyzed using Python code. This code compared all possible combinations of standard scores, AE scores, raw scores, and chronological ages from birth to 36 months to calculate the likelihood of misidentifications using an AE-based eligibility criterion.

Results:

The potential for misidentifications using AE scores was found in all tests. In total, 2,445 combinations of scores were found that could lead to the denial of services to children who exhibit developmental delays based on standard scores, and 3,037 combinations of scores were found that could lead to the inappropriate provision of services to children developing within the typical variation in these six tests.

Conclusions:

EI eligibility based on AE scores was found to be extremely problematic, as shown by thousands of score combinations that could lead to misidentification. EI eligibility criteria based on AE scores must be modified to ensure that these critical services reach children who need them.

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1044/2025_LSHSS-25-00091

Publication Date

3-17-2026

Department

Center for the Interdisciplinary Study of Language and Literature| School of Allied Health and Communicative Disorders

Special Interest Group

Diversity and Language Processing

Sponsorship

Northern Illinois University’s Summer Research Opportunity Program and the Center for the Interdisciplinary Study of Language and Literacy

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