ALPHA Test of Phonology
Assessment Link between Phonology and Articulation
A GIFT TO THE PROFESSION FROM
Robert J. Lowe PhD

Copyright Notice and Permission

As sole owner of the copyright, on this day, December 1, 2009,
I give my permission to professionals or students in the field of
speech-language pathology to use the ALPHA Test of Phonology
with the stipulation that the test will not be sold and if distributed
will include the author’s identifying information.
Robert J. Lowe, Ph.D.
Mifflinville, PA 18631, USA
rlowe@bloomu.edu

TO THANK DR LOWE CLICK HERE

Test Description

The ALPHA provides two assessments using a delayed sentence imitation format. First, the ALPHA provides a traditional sound-in-position assessment looking at initial and final consonant production. Second, if enough sound errors are present, the sample can be analyzed for the presence of phonological processes. Each of fifty target words is embedded in a short sentence. Following the examiner's sentence model and presentation of a stimulus picture, the subject repeats the stimulus sentence as the examiner transcribes the target word produced by the subject. From the transcriptions of these target words, the examiner completes the assessment with traditional scoring for articulation errors or by analyzing the sound change errors for the presence of phonological processes. Test results enable the examiner to compare the subject's performance with normal-speaking peers, aged 3;0 to 8;11, through the use of the normative data, and to determine appropriate intervention goals.

Robert J. Lowe

A graduate of Ohio University, Dr Lowe received his doctorate in speech pathology in 1986. His work experience includes several years as a school clinician in Iowa before beginning university teaching at the University of South Dakota. Since 1985 he has been a professor at Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania where he teaches courses in phonetics, diagnostics, fluency and phonology. Dr Lowe is author of the ALPHA- R Test of Phonology (Lowe, 2000), a textbook on phonology (Lowe, 1994), a workbook on phonological processes (Lowe, 2002), an expert essay on intrinsic motivation and self-efficacy (Lowe, 2009), co-author of two workbooks for articulation and phonology intervention (Lowe and Weitz, 1992a, 1992b) and author of a text on speech-language pathology and related professions in the public schools (Lowe, 1993).

Dr Lowe has kindly made the ALPHA Test of Phonology freely available, with appropriate acknowledgement, to SLP/SLT clinicians, student clinicians and researchers. Published by LinguiSystems in its first edition in 1986 the ALPHA/ALPHA-R is a normed test that continues to receive enthusiastic and positive feedback from its many users.

Lowe, R. J. (1986). Assessment Link between Phonology and Articulation. E. Moline, IL, LinguiSystems. 

Lowe, R. J. (2000). Assessment Link between Phonology and Articulation -Revised. Mifflinville, PA: ALPHA Speech & Language Resources. 

Lowe, R. J. (2002). Workbook for the identification of phonological processes and distinctive features, 3rd Ed. Austin, TX: Pro-Ed.

Lowe, R. J. (2009). The role of intrinsic motivation in learning of new speech behaviours. In C. Bowen, Children's speech sound disorders. Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell, pp. 101-105.

Lowe, R. J. & Weitz, J. (1992a). Activities for the remediation of phonological disorders. Dekalb, Ill: Janelle Publications, Inc.

Lowe, R. J. & Weitz, J. (1992b). Picture resources for the remediation of articulation and phonological disorders. Dekalb, Ill: Janelle Publications, Inc.

ALPHA Test of Phonology
Assessment Link between Phonology and Articulation
Robert J. Lowe, PhD
SCROLL DOWN TO DOWNLOAD THE TEST IN SEVEN PARTS

Cover Page
The original ALPHA test form was all on one large 16 x 22 inch sheet that neatly folded into compact size. That was not convenient for downloading, so now there are three (or four) 8 x 11 inch sheets instead. The cover sheet has the traditional identifying information, summary score information, phoneme and process analysis sections. I have added a Consonants Correct score which is just a total of consonants that were targeted and made correctly. From one administration to the next this score should become smaller if the client is making progress. This number could reflect just the sounds listed for the Target words or could also include the sounds listed for the Secondary words which will be described later.

Relational Analysis Form
This form has seven columns. The first column contains the sentence stimuli with the Target Words italicized and bolded. The second column lists the Target Words. The third and fourth columns are for entering the initial and final sound transcriptions. The last three columns are new. In that the ALPHA uses sentence stimuli, I decided that some of the other words in the sentences could also provide the clinician with useful information. These ‘Secondary’ words are listed and the final two columns are for transcription of the indicated sounds in those words. The information from the Secondary words CANNOT be used when applying the ALPHA norms, but do provide additional information about sound production.

Phonological Process Forms
There are two forms for identifying the phonological processes. These were designed to line up with the Target and Secondary word rows on the Relational Analysis Form. One is set up for the Target words and one for the Secondary words. Shaded areas indicate that the process is not likely to occur for the sounds in the associated word. Each column is wide enough so that potential processes for initial sounds can be checked on the left and for final sounds checked on the right. The advantage is that a quick visual inspection will show the clinician positional influences on the use of phonological processes. As with the original ALPHA, you would total all of the checks in the column and write it in at the bottom of the page. Only the processes identified for the Target words can be used with the ALPHA norms.

Manual and Tables
The original manual and tables have also been put into pdf format for easy downloading along with the picture stimuli and an identification matrix. The matrix makes process identification a much easier task and is recommended for those who are new to the ALPHA or to phonological processes in general. The matrix is based on the process definitions used by the ALPHA and would not be appropriate for other tests of phonology.

Sentence Stimuli
The stimulus sentences used for the ALPHA have been placed on two label templates (Avery 5160). If the user desires he or she can download the pictures and labels to create a test booklet so that while the client is looking at the picture stimulus, the clinician will be looking at the associated stimulus sentence."

Citing this Work

Cite Dr Lowe's work as: Lowe, R. J. (2000). Assessment Link between Phonology and Articulation -Revised. Mifflinville, PA: ALPHA Speech & Language Resources, retrieved from http://www.speech-language-therapy.com/alpha.html on (insert the date you downloaded ALPHA here).  

TO THANK DR LOWE CLICK HERE

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Page updated 24 Mar 2010

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