The Peabody Picture Vocabulary test measures a child's understanding of language. The examiner states the name of an object, and the child must choose the correct object from a group of four pictures. The words and pictures will become increasingly more difficult, assessing how well the child understands spoken language. The Peabody Picture Vocabulary test can be used with young or non-verbal children, and is particularly effective in assessing children with developmental disorders such as autism.
The Degrees of Reading Power, or DRP, test is given to a child in grades two through nine to assess reading comprehension and language use. A child will read a paragraph in which some of the words have been removed. The child will select the best words from a provided list to fill in the blanks. The child's score is based on how well he can interpret the paragraph and choose the correct missing words.
A score of 90 shows the child has the ability to understand language well enough to read independently. A score of 75 indicates the child needs assistance in comprehending language and additional reading instruction.
The Word Test 2 assesses a child's understanding of expressive language and semantics. A child will be tested on word associations, synonyms and antonyms, word definitions and semantic absurdity. A child will also be tested on flexible language use, such as using a word two different ways or providing two separate definitions for one word.