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The Communication Matrix

The Communication Matrix (Rowland, 1996) is a direct observational tool/behavioral inventory designed to determine how a child communicates and to provide a framework for developing communication goals.

Available from The Communication Matrix

Overview

The Communication Matrix (Rowland, 1996) is designed to determine how a child communicates and to provide a framework for determining communication goals. It is a web-based tool that is available for free; however, a printed version is also available. The Communication Matrix is a direct observational tool/behavioral inventory primarily used by speech-language pathologists and educators to document the communication skills of children who have severe or multiple disabilities, including children with sensory, motor, and cognitive impairments. It can be used with typically developing children from birth through 24 months of age but for persons of any age who are at early stages of communication. It is not appropriate for children who are fluent language learners.

Results are summarized on a one-page Profile and a Communication Skills List highlighting communication function, message content, and communication form. The Communication Matrix involves three major aspects of communication: communication function, message content, and the communication form. The Matrix is organized into four major functions that appear across the top of the columns on the Profile:

  • to REFUSE: expresses discomfort, protests, refuses, or rejects something
  • to OBTAIN: expresses comfort, continues an action, obtains more of something, requests more of an action, requests a new action, requests more of an object, makes choices, requests a new object, requests objects that are absent
  • to engage in SOCIAL interaction: expresses interest in other people, attracts attention, requests attention, shows affection, greets people, offers things or shares, directs someone’s attention to something, uses polite social forms
  • to PROVIDE or SEEK INFORMATION: answers “yes” and “no” questions, asks questions, names things or people, makes comments

Summary

Age: All ages at the earliest stages of communication; normally birth–2 in a typically developing child

Time to Administer: “Rapid administration by persons familiar with the assessment”

Method of Administration: Individually administered direct observational tool/ behavioral inventory in the form of a caregiver interview and informal observation in natural environment
Consists of six-page booklet and summary sheet
Yields designation of intention of communicative acts; age ranges; overall developmental language level

Subscales: Four major reasons to communicate: Refusals, Requests, Social Interaction, Provide/Seek Information

Autism Related Research

None found. However, the creator of the tool has posted a white paper (Rowland, 2012) that includes the theoretical and empirical basis of the instrument’s development and data they have collected using it.