Free Assessments for Parents
Although the Communication Matrix is mostly used as an assessment tool by SLPs and teachers, it was updated in 2004 to be used by parents as well. As a parent , your input is one of the most valuable...
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Collection Parents: The Communication Matrix is for YOU and it’s FREE!
Date Created: 2/24/2022
Posts: 7
As a parent or caregiver, your input is one of the most valuable resources available to support your family member with complex communication needs. The Matrix is mainly used by speech-language pathologists and educators. But when you use it too, you can be on the same page as the professionals who are helping your child. Check out the posts in this collection to find out how the Communication Matrix can help you!
We are the team members who work on the Communication Matrix projects at Oregon Health & Science University. We are a small group of researchers, speech-language pathologists and educational experts who are passionate about creating an engaging and supportive community to improve outcomes for individuals with complex communication needs.
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So you’ve completed a Communication Matrix Assessment. Now what?
As a parent, what can you do with your assessment results to support your loved one with complex communication needs? Here are some ideas: Print Results : Results are summarized on a one-page P...
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Using the Matrix to Plan Communication Goals
As a parent, you are your child’s biggest advocate and spokesperson. We hope the Communication Matrix can serve as a tool as you advocate for accommodations and goals to guide your child’s communicati...
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The Structure and Organization of the Matrix
As a parent, you may want to understand more about how the assessment is organized so you may better support your child’s communication skills. Here are the basics: The Matrix is organized into 4 REA...
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Network with Parents & Professionals on our Community Pages
Our online Community pages are free to access and available to everyone. You can post questions, topics for discussions, share information, search events or use our powerful search engine to fin...
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Shared Science to Improve Understanding
Parents, if you are looking for information about individuals with the same disorder that your learner experiences, we encourage you to check out the Shared Science section of our website. The ...
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User-friendly Help Videos and Email Support
We truly want the Communication Matrix to be a user-friendly and useful tool for you as you support your child’s communication skills. If you have questions about how to begin, we encourage you to v...
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GIVE
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© 2025 Charity Rowland, Ph.D.
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Try the Matrix
Please select a statement below that describes the type of matrix administration that you would like to begin.
Please wait while we process the matrix ...
You are about to TRY the Matrix Assessment tool.
Your information will not be saved unless you register. You may register for free at anytime throughout the tryout by clicking the orange button bottom right.
Your information is private.
The information you enter in the assessment is completely secure and cannot be identified. When you use this free service, we ask you to provide some very basic information about the individual you are assessing (gender, age, ethnic background, country of residence, disability and specific impairments) and your relationship to that person. However, we have no way of indentifying who has used this service.
Teachers:
Many teachers require their college students in communication disorders or child development classes to complete a Communication Matrix online. Please have your students use the Test Drive site for this purpose. You may ask them to print out the Profile and Communication Skills List as proof of their work.
Statement A
My child doesn't seem to have real control over his body yet.
The only way I know that he wants something is because he fusses or whines when he's unhappy or uncomfortable, and he smiles, makes noises or calms down when he's happy and comfortable. Does this statement describe your child?
Statement B
My child has control over her own behaviors, but she doesn't use them to try to communicate to me.
She doesn't come to me to let me know what she wants, but it's easy for me to figure out, because she tries to do things for herself. She knows what she wants, and her behavior shows me what she wants. If she runs out of something to eat, she will just try to get more, rather than trying to get me to give her more.
Does this statement describe your child?
Statement C
My child clearly tries to communicate his needs to me through gestures, sounds or language.
He knows how to get me to do something for him. He uses some of the kinds of behaviors below to communicate:
- Gestures such as pointing, shaking his head, tugging at my arm or looking back and forth between me and what he wants
- Sounds such as squealing to show you he wants something or fussing when he doesn't want something
- Language or symbolic forms of communication such as speech, written words, Braille, picture symbols, 3-dimensional symbols or sign language
Does this statement describe your child?
How to score your child
Each question you will see is related to a certain message that your child might be able to express using a variety of behaviors. Read the question and decide whether your child is able to express the message described using any of the listed behaviors. If the answer is YES, then you must also decide whether your child has mastered the use of each behavior or whether it is still at an emerging stage. Check either the mastered or emerging box next to any behaviors your child uses to express the message. Use the following definitions to decide whether a behavior is mastered or emerging
Mastered
– Does this independently most of the time when the opportunity arises
– Does this in a number of di erent contexts, and with di erent people
Emerging
– Does this inconsistently
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Only does this when prompted or encouraged to do so. Only does this in one or two contexts or with one person.
Tips on Communication Devices
Each question you will see is related to a certain message that your child might be able to express using a variety of behaviors. Read the question and decide whether your child is able to express the message described using any of the listed behaviors. If the answer is YES, then you must also decide whether your child has mastered the use of each behavior or whether it is still at an emerging stage. Check either the mastered or emerging box next to any behaviors your child uses to express the message. Use the following definitions to decide whether a behavior is mastered or emerging
