Diagnostic Receptive Expressive Assessment of Mandarin-Infant and Toddler-Screener
OVERVIEW
DREAM-IT-S is a standardized screener designed for early screening of language and communication abilities in infants and toddlers. It assists clinical professionals in quickly and accurately identifying children at risk for language developmental delays.
The DREAM-IT-S screener is administered through a parent questionnaire that screens four domains of early language and communication development: language comprehension, language expression, social communication, and cognitive play.
Screened Domains
- A child's ability to understand language, which forms the foundation for language expression.
- A child's motivation and ability to communicate and interact with others (e.g., eye contact, turn-taking, joint attention).
- A child's ability to use language to express their needs, thoughts, and experiences.
- A child's ability to explore the world and learn through play (highly related to language development).
Sample Items
Norms, Validity and Reliability
Rigorously Validated Through Scientific Research
| Band (in months) |
Sensitivity |
Specificity |
|---|---|---|
| 0-2.99 | 93 | 81 |
| 3-5.99 | 94 | 77 |
| 6-8.99 | 94 | 78 |
| 9-11.99 | 93 | 78 |
| 12-14.99 | 94 | 90 |
| 15-17.99 | 75 | 87 |
| 18-20.99 | 93 | 69 |
| 21-23.99 | 100 | 81 |
| 24-26.99 | 95 | 96 |
| 27-29.99 | 83 | 87 |
| 30-32.99 | 94 | 86 |
| 33-36.99 | 91 | 91 |
Research demonstrates that DREAM-IT-S meets international standards for both reliability and validity. In November 2019, its psychometric properties were presented at the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Annual Convention, signifying global recognition of DREAM-IT-S as a standardized Mandarin-language screening tool for infant and toddler language communication.
Cited by Authorized Regulations and Textbooks
A Guide to Global Language Assessment: A Lifespan Approach
supported by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), is an authoritative academic work focused on global language assessment.
Meet the Minds Behind DREAM-ITS
Dr. ChunYan Ning
Fulbright scholar and leading linguist, specializing in syntax, language acquisition, and speech-language norm development for DREAM-C.
Dr. Xueman "Lucy" Liu
Renowned clinician and researcher in audiology andspeech-language pathology, with extensive experience in clinical research, mentorship,and international collaboration.
Dr. Jill de Villiers
Globally recognized for her expertise in language acquisition, with 100+ published papers and book chapters.