The third edition of this popular test identifies infants and toddlers who have language impairments or other disabilities that affect language development. It is especially useful as an assessment and planning instrument in early childhood intervention programs mandated under P.L. 99-457.

    The REEL-3 uses the behavioral observations of parents or guardians to identify major language problems in youngsters up to 3 years of age. It consists of two core subtests--Receptive Language and Expressive Language--and a new supplementary subtest, the Inventory of Vocabulary Words. This edition incorporates a contemporary linguistic model and includes current studies relating to norms, reliability, and validity. Standardization data is based on parent reports describing the behavior of 1,112 infants and toddlers. The normative sample, which reflects 2000 U.S. Census demographics, is stratified by age, gender, race, ethnic group, and geographic region. Standard scores, percentile ranks, and age equivalents are provided.

    Individually administered in just 20 minutes, the REEL-3 can be used for the following purposes:

• Screening infants and toddlers for emergent language-learning problems
• Screening older preschoolers in whom delays are expected
• Obtaining a description of a child's present language environment
• Aiding clinical diagnosis
• Setting intervention goals
• Measuring delays in emergent speech and language development in infants with congenital anomalies and medically related handicaps

    Speech-language pathologists and other early childhood specialists find the REEL-3 helpful in determining the effect of physical and/or environmental risks on early speech and language development.