During a speech and language screening, if a child does not answer a question correctly, what should the SLPA do?

Marking the response as incorrect and writing down what the child said is essential for several reasons. First, it maintains the integrity of the screening process. Accurate documentation of a child's answers helps to assess their current level of understanding and language skills. By noting their response, the SLPA can analyze patterns in their answers and track progress over time.

Additionally, it provides a clear record for further evaluation by speech-language pathologists or other professionals who might work with the child in the future. This detailed feedback is crucial for developing targeted interventions and for determining whether the child may need additional support.

While it might seem encouraging to mark an incorrect answer as correct, doing so would misrepresent the child's abilities and potentially hinder their development. Changing the question could lead to inaccurate assessment of their skills, and discussing their answer may be useful in some contexts but isn't the immediate priority during a screening, where objective data is needed. Overall, marking the response correctly while documenting it fosters an accurate understanding of the child's communication abilities.