Test of Early Grammatical Impairment (TEGI)

Abstract

The Rice/Wexler Test of Early Grammatical Impairment (Rice/Wexler) is an individually administered clinical tool that can be used for the identification, diagnosis, screening, and follow-up evaluation of grammatical deficits in young children, ages 3 through 8 years, who speak Standard American English (SAE). The test focuses on a particular area of grammar that is known to be difficult for young children with language impairment at the age that this grammatical competence becomes well established in children with normal language acquisition. Poor performance on finiteness marking as measured in the Rice/Wexler can serve as a clinical marker that identifies “affected” children, or children who have impairments in this area of grammar. Early identification of language impairments in young children, especially children without other disabilities (sometimes known as Specific Language Impairment), is critical to ensuring the early intervention required to prepare children for the language demands of the early school years. In combination with assessments of vocabulary and speech development, the Rice/Wexler can provide documentation of fundamental elements of language for children during the preschool years and the school entry and early elementary school years.