Mecham’s Verbal Language Developmental Scale (MVLDS)
Name: ___________________________________________________________ Date of birth: ________________________
Chronological Age/Sex: ____________ M F Over-All Language Age Obtained: ____________ Speech Pathologist: ________________________________________________ Date of evaluation: ___________________ Key: ____(S)peaking ____(L)istening ____(R)eading ____(W)riting
0 – 1 Year Level Recognizes common pictures in the Golden ABC or
S 1. “Crows”, laughs or smiles comparable books and points to them as they are named. Vocalizes inarticulately (other than crying or fretting). (mama) Spontaneously gurgles or coos with evident animation or S 15. Talks in short sentences satisfaction. Laughs spontaneously or when stimulated. Uses short sentences or phrases, or subject-object combinations. Speech is practically useful within those limits, S 2. Produces consonant sounds reflexively and not mere “parrot talk.” (aen ) Produces consonant sounds spontaneously, especially after S 16. Can name common pictures being fed or while lying comfortably in crib. Sounds may be Names most common pictures such as those found in mixed with vowels and unconventional clicks and noises; but Golden Book Dictionary. Not mere repetition but names are recognizable as consonant sounds. spontaneously as he leafs through book. S 3. Talks; imitates sounds Babbles; or uses inarticulate speech which reveals apparent 2 – 3 Year Level initiative or expressive attempts at words as something more than there pleasurable vocalization. S 17. Verbalizes toilet needs S 4. Responds to name and “no-no” Verbalizes needs fairly consistently during the day in time for Turns and look toward speaker consistently when speaker something to be done about them; indicates type of need. says his name. Hesitates or refrains from performing activity S 18. Asks for “another” consistently upon being told ”no-no”. Upon being given a piece of gum, candy, or a cookie, will S 5. Comprehends “bye-bye” and “pat-a-cake” ask for another, wanting one for each hand, or, upon eating Waves hand in “bye-bye” gesture when “bye-bye” is spoken one cookie, immediately requests another. Must use the or in some way indicates that he understands the word “another” or “more” to get full credit. expression. Claps hands in pat-a-cake fashion upon hearing S 19. Uses plurals “pat-a-cake” one or more times from the speaker. Uses some plurals correctly in conversational speech by S 6. Echoes words (dada or mama) adding –es or –s to the end of words. Upon hearing words such as “dada” or “mama”, repeats it S 20. Vocabulary of at 50 words or more in back in understandable fashion. conversational speech S 7. Follows simple instructions Informant will not be sure whether he has more than 2 words Comes when called; goes short distances to particular points but is definite that he has at least 50 in his vocabulary which as directed; performs baby game pantomime on demand; in he uses for ordinary communicative purposes in general, cooperates on verbal request in very simple conversational speech. (kaen, sarap, ) activities. S 21. Uses pronouns I, me, you, etc. - 1 – 2 Year Level Uses these pronouns and perhaps others in correct or nearly correct grammatical form. Child may substitute me for I, she S 8. Expressive vocabulary of at least 2 words for her, but never substitutes me for you, her, etc. States 2 or more words spontaneously without having to be asked by someone to say them. Words must not be S 22. Expresses vocally a desire to take turns accidental, but must have been heard several times as Respects other children as social necessity and will await his words which are definitely tied with the context of the turn in situations which call for a “turn” such as riding tricycle, situation and are meaningful. Such words as mama, dada, swinging, etc. Expresses desire to take his turn when it and bye-bye should be given credit. comes. (amana - mamaya) W 9. Marks with pencil or crayon S 23. Identifies action in familiar action pictures Chooses pencil or crayon specially because they make a Distinguish physical actions such as jumping, walking, etc. mark. Amuses self with same for brief periods; marks up and when he sees them in picture form down, side-to-side, or with circling motion without breaking S 24. Names one color point or tearing paper. Does so spontaneously or on request as a means of self-occupation. Can name at least one of the primary colors (red, yellow, 10. Recognizes names of familiar objects blue) accurately upon being asked. Does so consistently L except for shades of color which are considerably lighter or Recognizes names of a dozen or more common objects darker than average. Example: May not name pink or when he hears them. maroon, even though red is consistently named correctly. L 11. Recognizes hair, mouth, ears, and hands when S 25. Names almost all common pictures they are named Routinely names most pictures in Golden ABC book, etc., Identifies these by pointing to them when asked, “Where are and does so on own initiative without having to be cued. On your eyes? Where is your hair?” etc. request can tell actions delivered by action pictures. S 12. Expressive vocabulary of at least 25 words Has vocabulary of at least 25 words with which to express 3 -4 Year Level himself. These include nouns, mainly, with some verbs, S 26. Says full name adverbs, and adjectives. Very seldom uses prepositions, Upon being encouraged to give first and last name, can do conjunctions, etc. (10) so without being cued by parent or other person. S 13. Uses names of familiar objects S 27. Relates experiences Uses names of several familiar objects (not including Gives simple accounts of experiences or tells stories persons) for particular purposes; not merely tells names of (unprompted) with sequential and coherent content and such objects when presented, but calls for or refers to them relevant detail. Vocabulary and language forms not so by name spontaneously. Names may be substitutes for or important as the continuity of the account. corruptions of dictionary words but should be more than S - 28. Says at least one nursery rhyme recognizable sounds. With a little encouragement can recite at least one common L 14. Identifies common pictures when named nursery rhyme such as ”Little Bo Beep” or ”Little Miss Page 1 of 2 SP Evaluation Forms: Language/MVLDSjarpslp04 Muffet”, etc. by heart. Item receives full credit if child recites dictation, but not from copy. blessing on food without help from parent. R 44. Reads on own initiative S 29. Recites poem or sings song from memory Makes independent and effective use of simple reading Does so in front of a small group or other person, and in a material (at about 4th grade level) such as comic strips, way which would be considered a creditable performance movie titles, simple stories, notes, simple instructions, (unintelligible) elementary news items, for own entertainment or S 30. Names all colors information. Names all primary colors (red, yellow, blue), not from heart W 45. Writes occasional short letters necessarily, but when shown toys or crayons of different Now and then writes brief letters to friends or relatives on colors, child will state colors correctly. own initiative or following mild suggestions, and does so without help except for spelling of unusual words and 4 – 5 Year Level supplying unfamiliar addresses. Addresses envelopes and R 31. Reads by way of pictures provides for mailing same. Tells a familiar story as he looks at the pictures in the picture books containing such stories as ”The Three Bears”, “Little 9 – 15 Year Level Red Riding Hood,” etc. Story corresponds to pictures as he S 46. Can retell short story that he has read on his own goes from one picture to another. May leave out portions of Can retell short unfamiliar story that he has read on his own, story which are not represented by a picture. or can describe a movie that he has seen recently. Gives W 32. Draws with pencil or crayon considerable detail and describes at length. Draws with pencil or crayon and produces simple but W 47. Answers ads purchased by mail recognizable forms such as man, house, tree, animal, Responds to magazine, radio, or other advertising by landscape. Credit detailed or differential coloring. reading coupons, requesting samples, sending for literature, W 33. Prints simple words ordering from catalogs. Prints or writes legibly first name or a few familiar words of 3 R 48. Enjoys books, newspapers, magazines or 4 letters not using copy. Does so spontaneously or from Reads for practical information or personal enjoyment, such dictation. Correct spelling not essential. as story or news columns in papers, magazine stories, library books, stories of adventure. 5 – 6 Year Level W 49. Writes by letter S 34. Relates fanciful tales Writes business or social letters which require Tells an experience or plan of action which is imaginative communication of serious information, exchange of only. This is more for self-satisfaction or projecting himself significant news, giving or acknowledging of instructions. into the act or experience rather than “lying” as a means to S 50. Follows current events and discusses them with an end, i.e. it is imaginative expression as opposed to other deliberate lying. Discusses current news, sports, sensational events, and S 35. Names penny, nickel, dime follows such matters with some continuity. Asks for penny, nickel and dime discriminately for different purposes. Example: Will ask for penny for buying lollipop, Scoring: but for nickel or dime for buying ice cream cone. Score 1 point for every skill shown positive (+) S 36. Recites numbers to 30s Score 0.5 point for every emerging (+/-) skill Can count to 30 by ones upon being asked to do so. Does S AL S AL S AL S AL not need help after beginning to count. May not be able to 1.0 0.17 13.5 1.73 26.0 3.19 38.5 6.36 count by 5s or 10s as yet. 1.5 0.24 14.0 1.78 26.5 3.28 39.0 6.49 S 37. Asks meaning of words 2.0 0.30 14.5 1.84 27.0 3.38 39.5 6.62 Upon hearing a new or unfamiliar word, will ask its meaning. 2.5 0.40 15.0 1.90 27.5 3.48 40.0 6.74 He may ask directly ”What does that mean?” or ”What’s 3.0 0.45 15.5 1.96 28.0 3.57 40.5 6.86 that?” or ”What’s ____?” (repeating the word on the latter 3.5 0.50 16.0 2.00 28.5 3.67 41.0 7.00 question) 4.0 0.60 16.5 2.05 29.0 3.77 41.5 7.24 4.5 0.68 17.0 2.11 29.5 3.88 42.0 7.47 5.0 0.74 17.5 2.16 30.0 4.00 42.5 7.72 6 – 7 Year Level 5.5 0.80 18.0 2.22 30.5 4.16 43.0 8.00 S 38. Uses telephone to communicate 6.0 0.88 18.5 2.26 31.0 4.34 43.5 8.22 Uses local telephone for practical purposes, that is …child… 6.5 0.95 19.0 2.33 31.5 4.49 44.0 8.48 carries on purposive conversation effectively, not including 7.0 1.00 19.5 2.39 32.0 4.65 44.5 8.74 long distance calls. Parent may supply number, but child 7.5 1.07 20.0 2.44 32.5 4.84 45.0 9.00 dials it himself 8.0 1.13 20.5 2.50 33.0 5.00 45.5 9.50 S 39. Can tell a familiar story 8.5 1.17 21.0 2.55 33.5 5.13 46.0 10.00 Can tell at some length, a familiar story such as ”Little Red 9.0 1.24 21.5 2.60 34.0 5.24 46.5 10.50 Riding Hood” or “The Three Bears”, and includes the 9.5 1.28 22.0 2.66 34.5 5.37 47.0 11.00 majority of detail. Consider transitive if considerable detail is 10.0 1.35 22.5 2.71 35.0 5.50 47.5 11.50 left out. 10.5 1.40 23.0 2.76 35.5 5.62 48.0 12.00 R 40. Reads on pre-primer level 11.0 1.45 23.5 2.83 36.0 5.74 48.5 13.00 Is able to read a pre-primer book and recognizes the 11.5 1.51 24.0 2.88 36.5 5.87 49.0 14.00 majority of the words without having to refer to the pictures in 12.0 1.56 24.5 2.94 37.0 6.00 49.5 15.00 the book. 12.5 1.62 25.0 3.00 37.5 6.13 50.0 16.00 W 41. Writes numbers from 1-50 13.0 1.66 25.5 3.09 38.0 6.24 Writes numbers legibly from 1-50. Does so upon request and S = Raw score does not need to copy or seek help from someone else. AL = Over-all Language Age (years) S 42. Names quarter, half-dollar, dollar, etc. Full credit should be given proper use of 25-cents, 50-cents, Raw Score = ______ 2-bits or 4-bits, etc. if these are used currently as the names Over-all Language Age = __________ of the coins presented W 43. Writes with pencil Writes legibly with a pencil a dozen or more simple words with correct spelling. Does so on own initiative or from
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