Evaluating the Relative Importance of Seven Language Screening Measures: A Preliminary Investigation

Purpose: This preliminary study evaluated the relative importance of seven language screening measures, including sentence repetition, vocabulary, nonword repetition, listening comprehension, and word learning, in predicting overall language ability. Method: A total of 126 kindergarten and first-grade students completed a comprehensive language screening battery, followed by an overall language assessment. Dominance analysis was used to assess complete, conditional, and general dominance for all language predictors. Results: Sentence repetition emerged as the most dominant predictor, demonstrating complete dominance over all other language predictors. A synonyms task was the second strongest predictor, though there was a substantial gap in the variance explained between sentence repetition and synonyms. The word learning task was the weakest predictor among all measures. Conclusions: This study supports prior research underscoring the strength of sentence repetition as a screening measure. While sentence repetition should serve as the cornerstone of language screening, further research is needed to explore whether additional language measures enhance accuracy.