Abstract:
Purpose: The aims of this review were to identify and explain the assessment tools developed to assess prosodic skills in children and adults and to evaluate the clinical utility of these tools. Method: Currently available tools were identified through searching four online databases, bibliographies of relevant articles and contacting authors. Results: Nine assessment tools were identified. The tools were appraised for their intended purpose, target population, domains of prosody assessed, validity, reliability and normative sample data. The purpose of development and content of the tools were well documented, but data on how feasible they were to use in practice was scarce. Each tool met some but not all the widely accepted criteria for validity and reliability. Most have not been sufficiently well tested for use in routine clinical practice. Conclusion: This review highlights the need to continue to develop and test tools for effective and comprehensive assessment of prosodic skills.
