iTap Test of Articulation and Phonology allows SLPs to assess/screen articulation and phonology, record speech samples during the assessment, and generate reports to share with teachers and parents.
When you first open iTap, you will have the opportunity to watch a video tutorial. You can also access the tutorial through the settings if you need it again later on.
When adding students, the app allows for identification of any dialectical influences. This is a great feature and also a great reminder for the SLP to be aware of possible dialectical differences that may have an impact on the student’s articulation.
As you progress through the assessment, pictures are presented to elicit target words. Each target word addresses multiple phonemes. The target phonemes are highlighted in green, which also indicates a correct production. ***Note: Vowel errors are not addressed in this assessment, though you are able to make additional notes as you evaluate.
When the student produces an error, tap the target phoneme to record their response. A list of common phonological processes will pop up for you to select from. ***Note: A great feature of the app is that you are able to flip the target image around so you can sit across from the student. The documentation area will face you and the target word and picture will face the student.
By selecting “substitution,” you are then able to select which phoneme the student produced in place of the target phoneme.
For cluster reduction, you are also able to note which phoneme the student produced correctly.
The app also includes a quick screen of multisyllabic words. These words are scored as correct/incorrect rather than noting specific phoneme errors.
After the assessment is completed, the SLP is then able to provide an overall intelligibility rating at the word and phrase level. ***Note, the app does not address phrases, but the SLP can include phrase level productions as needed.
One of my favorite features of iTap is the scoring and report information. iTap does provide a standardized score for your students. ***Note: You can read more about the standardization sample on the Smarty Ears Website.
The reporting feature provides a general overview of the student’s performance, with more specific information in the areas of position, manner, voicing, words, multisyllabic words, and types of errors.
The word analysis allows you to see each of the target words and the errors noted on each word.
For multisyllabic words, an overall accuracy percentage is provided based on the number of syllables in each target word.
My favorite feature is the pie chart summarizing the error results. I am a visual person and I love the visual representation of the results. I can also use my snip it tool to cut and paste this into my IEP program to display in a student’s report.
All of the results are then formatted into a well written report. This report can be saved to your computer, emailed, or printed.
***Disclaimer: This review represents my personal opinions. Smarty Ears provided me with a copy of the app, but no other compensation was received.