CTOPP: Comprehensive Test of Phonological Processing

Assess phonological processing skills to develop individualized speech therapy programs to improve phenomic awareness and literacy-related skills.

Administration: Individual
Ages: 4-0 through 24-11
Test Level: B
Testing Time: 40 minutes

The Comprehensive Test of Phonological Processing (CTOPP) was published in 1999 to meet the need for an assessment of reading-related phonological processing skills. Since its initial publication, the CTOPP has been popular with professionals in psychology and education. It has been used in many studies of reading and phonological processing in both typical and clinical populations. The extent of its widespread adoption and usage is evident from the results of a recent search of the PsychInfo database for research studies using the terms Comprehensive Test of Phonological Processing or CTOPP. The query returned 4,287 results.

Uses of the CTOPP

The CTOPP has four principal uses:

1. To identify individuals who are significantly below their peers in important phonological abilities,
2. To determine strengths and weaknesses among developed phonological processes,
3. To document individuals' progress in phonological processing as a consequence of special intervention programs, and
4. To serve as a measurement device in research studies investigating phonological processing.

CTOPP Subtests

1. Elision measures the ability to remove phonological segments from spoken words to form other words.
2. Blending Words measures the ability to synthesize sounds to form words.
3. Sound Matching measures the ability to select words with the same initial and final sounds.
4. Phoneme Isolation measures the ability to isolate individual sounds within words.
5. Blending Nonwords measures the ability to synthesize sounds to form nonwords.
6. Segmenting Nonwords measures the ability to segment nonwords into phonemes.
7. Memory for Digits measures the ability to repeat numbers accurately.
8. Nonword Repetition measures the ability to repeat nonwords accurately.
9. Rapid Digit Naming measures the ability to rapidly name numbers.
10. Rapid Letter Naming measures the ability to rapidly name letters.
11. Rapid Colour Naming measures the ability to rapidly name colours.
12. Rapid Object Naming measures the ability to rapidly name objects.

CTOPP Composites

• Phonological Awareness Composite Score (PACS). The PACS represents the examinee's awareness of and access to the phonological structure of oral language. It comprises the standard scores of three subtests: Elision, Blending Words, and Sound Matching (for ages 4-6) and Elision, Blending Words, and Phoneme Isolation (for ages 7 through 24).
• Phonological Memory Composite Score (PMCS). The PMCS represents the examinee's ability to code information phonologically for temporary storage in working or short-term memory. It comprises the standard scores of two subtests: Memory for Digits and Nonword Repetition, for all individuals. 
• Rapid Symbolic Naming Composite Score (RSNCS). The RSNCS measures the examinee's ability to include efficient retrieval of phonological information from long-term or permanent memory and execute a sequence of operations quickly and repeatedly. It comprises the standard scores of two subtests: Rapid Digit Naming and Rapid Letter Naming, for all individuals. 
• Rapid Non-Symbolic Naming Composite Score (RNNCS). The RNNCS measures the examinee's ability to include efficient retrieval of phonological information from long-term or permanent memory and execute a sequence of operations quickly and repeatedly using objects and colours. It comprises the standard scores of two subtests: Rapid Color Naming and Rapid Object Naming and offers an alternative for young children, ages 4-6, not familiar with letters and numbers.
• Alternate Phonological Awareness Composite Score (APACS). The APACS measures the examinee's phonological awareness exclusively with nonwords.  It is formed by combining the scaled scores from Blending Nonwords and Segmenting Nonwords. An alternate composite for measuring phonological awareness is available for 7 to 24-year-olds.

Characteristics of the CTOPP

• All new normative data were collected in 2008 and 2009.
• The test was normed on 1,900 individuals ranging in age from 6 through 24 years.
• The demographic characteristics of the sample conform to those of the population reported in the Statistical Abstract of the United States, and are, therefore, representative of the U.S. population.
• The floor effects present in the 5- and 6-year-old version of the first edition have been eliminated by the addition of easier items and the ceilings were extended by the addition of more difficult items. The results of the item additions were so successful that it now is appropriate to administer the CTOPP-2 to 4-year-olds. The lower version of the CTOPP-2 now covers the 4 to 6-year-old range.
• A new phonological awareness subtest called Phoneme Isolation was added.
• The model of phonological processing abilities was clarified.
• Confirmatory factor analyses were carried out and justified the presence of rapid naming subtests on a test of phonological processing.
• The model for the 4 to 6-year-old range was revised by adding rapid naming of digits and letters to this version and reporting scores on both symbolic and non-symbolic rapid naming at this level.

Scores Available

The CTOPP yields six types of normative scores:

1. Age equivalents:  show the relative standing of individuals' scores.
2. Grade equivalents: show the relative standing of individuals' scores.
3. Percentile ranks: are easily understood by parents and others with whom the examiner might want to share the results. 
4. Subtest scaled scores: have a mean of 10 and a standard deviation of 3. 
5. Composite indexes: have a mean of 100 and a standard deviation of 15. 
6. Developmental score: a new Rasch-based developmental score is now available for the non-speeded subtests.

Statistical Reliability and Validity Characteristics

Reliability of the CTOPP subtests and composites was demonstrated by average internal consistency coefficients presented for the subtests that exceed .80 for all except Nonword Repetition with an average alpha of .77. The average internal consistency coefficients for the composites were all .85 or higher, a highly desirable level for reliability. The validity of the CTOPP subtests and composites was demonstrated by correlations to measures directly related to the constructs measured by the CTOPP. The averaged coefficients for the subtests range from .49 (moderate) to .84 (very large); those for the composites range from .65 (large) to .76 (very large) in magnitude.

The complete CTOPP kit includes:

• Examiner's Manual
• Picture Book
• 25 Examiner Record Booklets for ages 4-6
• 25 Examiner Record Booklets for ages 7-24
• Online access to supplemental material
• Sturdy storage box