Computer Based Assessment of Phonological Processes in Malayalam (CAPP-M) - A Preliminary Attempt

Abstract

In English, many computerized phonological assessment tools have been developed. In India too, attempts have been made to computerize the assessment of phonological processes. This paper introduces Computerized Assessment of Phonological Processes in Malayalam (CAPP-M), which is a user friendly software. Malayalam Articulation Test (MAT; Maya, 1990) was administered on 30 typically developing Malayalam speaking children, in the age range of 3-3.6 years. Out of the 72 test words administered, 40 target words were errored. Phonological processes for these 40 words were identified. Out of these 40 errored words, 20 most commonly erorred words were selected for software making. The software developed consists of the picture of the target word along with the IPA representation of the correct production of the word along with three other most occurring erroneous productions for the same word. The clinician has to listen to the child's production and select one of the four options provided. After the administration of 20 target words, on clicking the option "Report" the software provides the list of processes the child has produced with its frequency. Microsoft.net framework 2. 0 is mandatory to run the software. The sensitivity of the software was tested on 6 children with hearing impairment; The administration revealed that CAPP-M was sensitive to the productions of children with hearing impairment. However, CAPP-M should be run on a larger group of normal children aged 3-3.6 years as well as other categories of communication disordered children to evaluate its sensitivity more comprehensively.