# Development and validation of a reading comprehension and fluency screening assessment tool for children aged 7–10: implications for audiological rehabilitation

## TL;DR

A new Turkish reading assessment tool for children aged 7–10 was developed and validated to help evaluate literacy skills in audiological rehabilitation.

## Contribution

The study introduces a practical, reliable, and valid screening tool for reading comprehension and fluency in Turkish children.

## Key findings

- The RCF-SAT showed strong internal consistency with Cronbach’s α of 0.861 and McDonald’s ω of 0.859.
- Reading and writing performance improved consistently with age among the tested children.

## Abstract

This study presents a valid and reliable Turkish Reading Comprehension and Fluency Screening Assessment Tool (RCF-SAT) for children aged 7 to 10, which was developed and standardized. Considering the absence of practical, audiologist-friendly instruments in existing literature, this study introduces an original screening assessment tool that evaluates reading comprehension, reading speed, and writing fluency. Consisting of a short narrative passage and eight open-ended questions, RCF-SAT was administered to a diverse sample of 457 primary school students. Statistical analyses, including explanatory and confirmatory factor analyses, validated the RCF-SAT’s structure. Reliability coefficients (Cronbach’s α = 0.861; McDonald’s ω = 0.859) confirmed their internal consistency. The results showed consistent improvements in reading and writing performance with age. This tool provides a quick, accessible, and statistically robust method for evaluating literacy development in Turkish-speaking children.