**7. SLIt tool**

The test of Specific Language Impairments (SLIt tool) is a tablet application that uses a very simple test for identifying children with SLI on an iOS platform (Apple, Inc.), specifically for use on an iPad (iPad third generation or newer) that is based on the procedures used in error analysis. The aim was to create a simple tool that is user-friendly and is easy to use for anyone, for example, parents. Devices such as tablets are light and portable. The test is possible to perform anywhere, for example, at home, instead of only in a specialized clinic.

**Figure 9** shows an application SLIt Tool. An application is divided onto four parts. Part 1 contains text from the research for testing children (see **Table 1**). Part 2 contains tools for recording speech. Part 3 contains the corrective mechanisms from error analysis. In the last part (4), a final evaluation of the test is performed. It is possible to view general information about our research on children with SLI and about this application, for example, description of SLI, specification of users, advantages of application and information about the supporting grant.

The test for a child is a very simple, and the course of recordings proceeds the same way as in our research. The procedure is as follows:

**Formant analysis: vocalic triangle classification** Participants Classification

18 Learning Disabilities - An International Perspective

recording was determined as controls).

sification method are shown in **Table 6**.

**7. SLIt tool**

clinic.

**Correct Wrong Not**

in *"různobarevný"* (in en: *"varicoloured"*). The vocalic triangle is presented for simple speech, that is, for isolated vowels; on the other side, the vocalic triangle is absent for more complex speech, that is, for word "různobarevný" (in en: "varicoloured"). The arrows point to the positions where the vowels should be located under ideal circumstances. This corresponds to the situation in the upper chart (part A in **Figure 8**). This particular example can be used to demonstrate a relationship between the complexity of the words being spoken and the shift in the speech sound frequency spectrum in children with specific language impairments. Bottom chart (part B in **Figure 8**) shows the vocalic triangles obtained from participant from controls; the triangle is present for both situations (simple speech and speech that is more complex).

Twenty-one participants were classified into the correct class, controls vs. cases, one participant was classified into the wrong class and two participants were not classified (based on real example, two recordings were analyzed for one participant; the result obtained from the first recording was determined as controls, and the result obtained from the second

The experiment only involved participants from cases. A total of 24 participants were randomly selected with 54 recordings. Some participants had one speech recording on record, and some had several. The whole experiment was based on the comparison of the two different vocalic triangles, namely isolated vowels (*"a", "e", "i", "o", "u"*) and multisyllabic word *"různobarevný"* (in en: *"varicoloured"*). A prerequisite of this method is the difference in the shape of the vocalic triangles, that is, for isolated vowels, it has the correct shape, while the shape for multisyllabic word is misshapen. The three possible classifications were obtained, that is, correct, wrong and not classified. The results obtained from the vocalic triangle clas-

The test of Specific Language Impairments (SLIt tool) is a tablet application that uses a very simple test for identifying children with SLI on an iOS platform (Apple, Inc.), specifically for use on an iPad (iPad third generation or newer) that is based on the procedures used in error analysis. The aim was to create a simple tool that is user-friendly and is easy to use for anyone, for example, parents. Devices such as tablets are light and portable. The test is possible to perform anywhere, for example, at home, instead of only in a specialized

24 21 1 2 Success rate [%] 87.50 4.16 8.34

**Table 6.** Success rate of method is based on the vocalic triangle classification.

**Figure 9.** Screen shot of SLIt Tool application on an iOS platform. This figure shows a basic window for testing of the children. Labels inside the rectangular black boxes describe the main functions and possibilities of using this application (description using the letters beside the arrows): (a) link to web pages of the professional association of clinical speech pathologists; (b) complete description and instructions for use an application; (c) text for testing children; (d) the possibility of choosing to send an audio recording of the test via email; (e) the possibility to make corrections in spoken words; (f) the possibility of choosing to send the test via email to speech and language pathologist; (g) all errors of the test are displayed in this part; (h) final evaluation of the test is displayed in this part; (i) choice of child's age and (j) possibility to make an audio recording of the test.


The application allows for viewing of a list of therapeutic consulting rooms, which are associated with the professional association of clinical speech pathologists in the Czech Republic (AKL CR). Here, it is possible to identify concrete speech and find a language pathologist who can evaluate the results via email. This email with the test evaluation also contains information about the test, the obtained errors, a recommendation based on the final score and an audio recording of test. Audio recordings can be especially beneficial in a comprehensive report on the possible language and speech difficulties of a child. The SLIt Tool is free to use and is available from iTunes.
