Overview
The OPUS is a measure of auditory comprehension that evaluates a person's ability to listen to passages read aloud and recall information about them. It also measures memory skills, which are integral to listening comprehension.
Suitable for
Suitable for use with ages 5 to 21 years.
Product Description
The OPUS is designed to assess the comprehension of spoken language in a natural context – a skill that is fundamental to classroom learning. It evaluates the ability to integrate and apply knowledge in three structural categories of language:
- Lexical/Semantic: knowledge and use of words and word combinations
- Syntactic: knowledge and use of grammar
- Supralinguistic: knowledge and use of language in which meaning is not directly available from the surface lexical and syntactic information
Measuring higher-level comprehension skills, including inference and prediction, yields more detailed information beyond simply whether the individual can comprehend or not. These skills require deeper processing abilities and thus differentiate typically developing individuals from those with language and learning delays or disorders. The OPUS also measures memory skills, which are integral to listening comprehension.
The OPUS can be used on its own anytime you need to measure how well an individual understands orally presented information. It provides important evidence for everyone involved in treatment, so you can help children and young adults reach their potential at school, at home, at work, and in the community.
Test structure
The OPUS consists of 17 passages, each with 7 to 10 associated questions. These passages are divided into six Item Sets. Each Item Set includes 5 passages and up to 44 items. The passages are arranged in order of difficulty and are carefully crafted to offer a variety of content and styles. They are either adapted from published works or created to reflect the types of material a person is likely to encounter in everyday life.
Applications
A versatile instrument, the OPUS can be used by speech and language therapists, psychologists, specialist assessors and other professionals in a variety of settings, including:
- Schools
- Clinics and hospitals
- Private practices
- Early intervention and RTI (Response to Intervention) programmes
It can also help professionals answer a variety of referral questions. For example:
- Can a student sufficiently understand and retain information heard in class?
- Are listening difficulties contributing to a child's social skill challenges?
- Does this student need someone to take notes in class for them?
Qualification level required:
Level 2. Please see our Test User Qualifications page for guidance.
Norms
Based on a stratified sample of 1,517 individuals that is representative of the U.S. population in terms of gender, race/ethnicity, parent education level, and geographic region.
Duration
Administration takes 10–20 minutes.
Release Note
2016
