Explore Examples of Informal Assessment in SLP Practice

Explore Examples of Informal Assessment in SLP Practice

As a Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP), one of the most important aspects of your practice is assessment. A comprehensive assessment provides valuable information to make informed decisions about the treatment of your clients.

There are two types of assessments: formal and informal. Formal assessments involve standardized instruments, norm-referenced tests or rubrics. Informal assessments have be methods that are more subjective, observation-based, or non-standardized.

In this article, we’ll be exploring examples of informal assessments in SLP practice, and how they can be used to obtain valuable information that helps you support your clients better.

Background Information on Informal Assessments

Informal assessments are a crucial part of the SLP toolkit, as they provide targeted information in an efficient and cost-effective manner. Informal assessments are sometimes used to supplement formal assessments and can be used when standardized tests do not capture all the aspects of a client’s communication difficulties.

The following are some characteristics of informal assessments:

• They take place in the context of everyday communication activities.
• They are non-standardized and can be adapted to each client’s needs.
• They provide qualitative information on communication difficulties.
• They identify strengths that clients possess.
• They are low-stress and can help clients feel more comfortable with the assessment process.

Examples of Informal Assessments

There are various types of informal assessments that SLPs use to gather information about their clients. Here are some examples:

Observations

Observation is a vital aspect of an SLP’s assessment process. During observations, the SLP observes the client’s communication abilities in real-life situations. Observations may take place in different settings like home, school, or social settings.

Observations help to identify various aspects of communication, such as:

• The client’s communication partners.
• The client’s communication environment.
• The client’s ability to initiate communication and maintain interactions.
• The client’s use of communication strategies to convey meaning effectively.

Interviews

Interviews are valuable assessments that help to gather information from both the client and their family. The client’s input is collected concerning their communication difficulties, while family members provide other useful information regarding communication events.

The information gained from interviews can help the SLP to:

• Pinpoint communication challenges from the client’s perspective.
• Understand the communication environment at home.
• Recognize communication strategies, which have previously worked with the client.

Dynamic Assessment

This informal assessment encompasses a wide range of techniques, including test-teach-retest and graduated prompting activities.

Dynamic assessments involve observing a client’s ability to learn and generalize new skills. The assessment focuses on identifying teachable moments to inform future therapy.

Why Informal Assessments are important in SLP Practice

Informal assessments are crucial in SLP practice since they provide a more in-depth understanding of a client’s communication difficulties. This type of assessment provides a comprehensive evaluation of the client’s strengths and weaknesses.

Informal assessments can help SLPs to:

• Develop functional goals that fit the client’s needs.
• Create client-specific therapy plans that incorporate the client’s strengths.
• Provide unique services that are not captured by standardized tests.
• Collaborate with clients and families to identify target areas for improvement.

Conclusion

Informal assessments in SLP practice are critical in providing a comprehensive understanding of a client’s communication needs. As SLPs, we need to use a variety of tools to work collaboratively with clients and families towards successful communication outcomes.

By incorporating informal assessments like observations, interviews, and dynamic assessments in our practice, we can help our clients achieve meaningful communication autonomy. With this, we can support our clients to succeed in social, academic, and life settings.