The ComFor: an instrument for the indication of augmentative communication in people with autism and intellectual disability

Journal of Intellectual Disability Research - Tập 50 Số 9 - Trang 621-632 - 2006
Ilse Noens1, Ina van Berckelaer‐Onnes1, Roger Verpoorten2, Gijs van Duijn1
1University of Leiden, Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Clinical Child and Adolescent Studies, Leiden, the Netherlands
2Viataal, the Netherlands

Tóm tắt

AbstractBackground  The ComFor (Forerunners in Communication) is an instrument to explore underlying competence for augmentative communication. More specifically, it measures perception and sense‐making of non‐transient forms of communication at the levels of presentation and representation. The target group consists primarily of individuals with autism and intellectual disability (ID) without or with only limited verbal communication. The ComFor is suitable for children and adults with a developmental level between 12 and 60 months. This paper describes the theoretical framework and structure of the ComFor, the results of a study on its psychometric properties and its clinical uses.Method  The ComFor was tested on a sample of 623 children and adults from the Netherlands and Flanders: a group with autism and ID (n = 310); a group with ID without autism (n = 174); and a control group of typically developing children (n = 139).Results  The data generally support the reliability and validity of the ComFor. Internal consistency, inter‐rater and test–retest reliability were found to be good. Construct validity (internal structure, convergent and divergent patterns) was established in different ways. The criterion‐related validity has yet to be established, as predictive data are not available at the moment.Conclusion  Taken together, the results indicate that the ComFor is a promising instrument to explore underlying competence for augmentative communication. Areas for future research are outlined and the clinical relevance is discussed.

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Journal of Intellectual Disability Research

Tập 50 Số 9

621-632

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