Reproducibility and validity of the Functional Communication Classification System for young children with cerebral palsy.

Aim: To examine interrater agreement and validity of the Functional Communication Classification System (FCCS) for young children with cerebral palsy (CP) aged 2 or 3 years.

Method: Speech-language pathologist (SLP) and parent FCCS ratings for 31 children with CP (aged 2y, n=16; aged 3y, n=15; 18 males, 13 females) were examined for interrater agreement using a weighted Cohen's kappa statistic. Relationships between FCCS (SLP) ratings and: (1) concurrent validity with the Language Use Inventory, a standardized pragmatic assessment for children aged 18 to 47 months, (2) gross motor and fine motor function, (3) associated impairments (visual and intellectual), and (4) primary expressive communication mode were examined using Spearman's correlation coefficients.

The Functional Communication Classification System: extended reliability and concurrent validity for children with cerebral palsy aged 5 to 18 years.

Aim: To examine psychometric properties and clinical utility of the Functional Communication Classification System (FCCS) for classifying observable communication function in children with cerebral palsy (CP) aged 5 to 18 years.

Method: Eighty-two children (38 males, 44 females) with CP in six age groups (5y [n=15], 8y [n=14], 10y [n=14], 12y [n=14], 15y [n=11], and 17y [n=14]) were assessed by a speech-language pathologist (SLP) and parent for FCCS ratings. Data were compared with: (1) everyday communication function, assessed using the Clinical Evaluation of Language Fundamentals - Fourth Edition Pragmatics Profile (CELF-4 PP) for familiar and unfamiliar partners; (2) motor speech, gross and fine motor function; and (3) associated impairments, including epilepsy, intelligence, hearing, and vision.