An Exploration of Language and Communication Profiles in a Clinical Sample of People with Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Seen in the UK National FASD Clinic: A Service Audit Comparing and Contrasting the Clinical Evaluation of Language Fundamentals (CELF), Children’s Communication Checklist (CCC) and Vineland Adaptive Behaviour Scales (VABS) Assessment Measures

Background/Objectives: Language difficulties have been recognised as common in people with FASD. Assessment of the language domain is important, and the CELF, CCC, and VABS are three commonly used language assessment tools. The CCC and VABS are both informant-report questionnaires, whilst the CELF is completed in person by a Speech and Language Therapist (SaLT). As many neurodevelopmental assessment clinics may not have access to a SaLT, the aim of this paper was to establish potential correlations between these measures in individuals with FASD, as well as to establish the clinical utility of questionnaire-based measures for assessment of communication in FASD in the absence of a multidisciplinary team. Methods: Data was drawn from the UK National FASD Clinic database containing 385 patient assessments. Sample size varied between 77 and 274 completed assessments depending on the measure due to change in clinical practice over several years. A two-tailed Spearman’s Correlations between CCC subscales and CELF domains were carried out. Two-tailed Spearman’s Correlations between the Communication domain of the VABS and the CELF were also conducted. Results: Significant correlations were found between all assessed CELF domains and the CCC Semantics and Coherence subdomains and GCC, as well as between the CCC Syntax subdomain and 3 of the CELF domains. No significant correlations were found between CCC Speech and any CELF domains. A mix of significant correlations between the VABS domain and subdomains and the CELF domains were found. Conclusions: These results suggest the potential clinical utility of using the CCC as a measure of an individual’s language functioning as part of an FASD assessment, particularly in the absence of access to direct assessment carried out by a SaLT. Future research should focus on the development of a questionnaire-based assessment battery for an FASD population to increase access to diagnosis.