Forerunners in Communication

Abstract

The ComVoor (Voorlopers in Communicatie) is an observational instrument designed to provide an action-oriented indication for the use of supportive communication strategies for individuals with significant communication challenges. It addresses two primary clinical questions: identifying appropriate communication aids and determining the necessary level of meaning-making at which these aids can be effectively employed. The assessment is structured around observing the person’s performance—noting both successes and errors—and utilizes a domain-specific, rather than norm-referenced, interpretation framework. The test is composed of two primary levels, Presentation and Representation, which gauge the individual’s ability to handle concrete versus abstract concepts. Due to the specialized nature of the assessment, the ComVoor requires administrators to participate in a mandatory specialized training course prior to administration.

Keywords

Supportive communication, Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), meaning-making, observational instrument, psychological disorders, representation, presentation, domain-oriented assessment.

Authors

Verpoorten R, Noens I, Berckelaer van-Onnes I (2004); Herziene versie (Revised Version): Verpoorten R, Noens I, Berckelaer van-Onnes I (2016)

Purpose

The primary purpose of the ComVoor is clinical and practical: to establish a concrete, action-oriented plan for how best to support an individual’s communication abilities. It is specifically designed to move beyond simple diagnosis to focus on individualized intervention strategies, particularly for individuals who have complex communication needs associated with psychological disorders or developmental challenges.

The instrument is engineered to answer two critical clinical questions regarding supportive communication: 1) What types of communication aids or methods are suitable for the individual given their current cognitive abilities? and 2) At what level of conceptual understanding or meaning-making can these chosen aids be effectively introduced and utilized? The resulting indications are intended to guide educators, therapists, and caregivers in facilitating effective communication.

Construct

The ComVoor measures the prerequisites, or “Voorlopers” (precursors), necessary for functional communication, focusing intensely on how an individual assigns meaning to objects and symbols. The core construct assessed is the level of representation and abstraction an individual can handle, which directly influences their potential for using Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) systems.

The assessment is structured around two distinct cognitive levels: Presentation and Representation. These levels map the cognitive abilities required to transition from basic, concrete object recognition (Presentation) to abstract symbolic understanding (Representation), providing a structured framework for communication intervention planning.

Validity

Specific detailed validity information (content, construct, criterion) is not explicitly detailed in the accompanying source summary. However, as an established observational instrument used widely in clinical settings, the ComVoor relies heavily on strong content validity, ensuring that the two levels of assessment (Presentation and Representation) accurately capture the necessary precursors for symbolic communication.

The utility of the scale—providing a direct, action-oriented indication for supportive communication methods—serves as a practical form of criterion validity in clinical practice, where the effectiveness of the resulting intervention plan is the ultimate measure of the assessment’s clinical value.

Reliability

Specific reliability metrics, such as internal consistency or test-retest reliability, are not detailed in the source material. For a complex observational instrument like the ComVoor, high inter-rater reliability is crucial to ensure consistency in performance assessment and interpretation across different clinical professionals.

This necessity is addressed by the mandatory participation in a specialized ComVoor course, which standardizes administration procedures, scoring protocols, and interpretive guidelines, thereby aiming to minimize variance attributable to the administrator.

Factor Analysis

The ComVoor assessment is structured based on a predefined theoretical model involving two distinct cognitive levels (Presentation and Representation) related to meaning-making and abstraction. As these levels are established domains rather than statistically derived factors, traditional psychometric factor analysis used for dimensionality reduction is typically less relevant than confirming the theoretical distinction and clinical utility of these two functional domains.

Instrument

Test Type: Instrumental, Observational Scale

Format: Performance-based tasks involving the sorting and matching of identical and non-identical objects and images.

Language Available: Primarily Dutch (Original source material).

Population Group: Individuals requiring supportive communication, including those diagnosed with Psychological and Personality Disorders, and Psychological Disorders.

Age Group: Children, Adults.

Population Details: Individuals across the lifespan experiencing significant communication challenges, particularly those associated with developmental or psychological conditions impacting the ability to assign meaning and utilize symbolic systems.

Test Methodology: The assessment is divided into two operational levels:

• Presentation Level: Tasks require the individual to sort identical objects or images based strictly on observable physical characteristics (e.g., material, shape, color, or size). This assesses basic discrimination and perceptual organization.
• Representation Level: Tasks require the individual to sort non-identical objects. This level is further subdivided into tasks requiring sorting within the same form category and tasks requiring sorting across different forms, assessing higher levels of abstraction and symbolic understanding necessary for Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC).

Keywords

ComVoor, observational scale, communication precursors, intervention planning, Augmentative and Alternative Communication, cognitive assessment, sorting tasks, developmental disorders.

Authors

Author ORCID Identifier: Not specified in source content.

Affiliation Email addresses: Not specified in source content.

Correspondence Address: Not specified in source content.

Permissions & Fee and Test Year

The original version of the ComVoor was published in 2004, with a significant revised version released in 2016. Due to the requirement for specific clinical training (the ComVoor course) prior to administration, the scale is proprietary and protected by copyright. Administration and scoring materials are typically accessed through authorized distributors or training bodies, suggesting associated licensing fees and permissions for clinical or research utilization.

Reference’s

The following references document the development and revision of the instrument:

• Verpoorten R, Noens I, Berckelaer van-Onnes I (2004). Original publication of the ComVoor (Voorlopers in Communicatie).
• Verpoorten R, Noens I, Berckelaer van-Onnes I (2016). Herziene versie (Revised Version) of the ComVoor.

The original explanatory form (Toelichtingsformulier) for the ComVoor-2 can be downloaded here: ComVoor-2-form.pdf.

Items of the Voorlopers in Communicatie

IMPORTANT: The following scale items must be preserved in their original language and must not be changed in any way.

De ComVoor beoogt voor iedere persoon een handelingsgerichte indicatie van ondersteunende communicatie te verschaffen. De twee kernvragen zijn: welke middelen zijn geschikt om communicatie te ondersteunen en op welk niveau van betekenisverlening kunnen de gekozen middelen worden ingezet. Men kijkt naar wat de persoon goed heeft gedaan en wat fout ging. De interpretatie is domeingericht (en niet normgericht). De test bestaat uit twee niveau’s.

• Bij het presentatieniveau moeten identieke voorwerpen of afbeeldingen op grond van waarneembare eigenschappen als materie, vorm, kleur of grootte worden gesorteerd.
• Bij het andere niveau (representatie) moeten niet-identieke voorwerpen worden gesorteerd, waarbij bij één reeks binnen dezelfde vormen wordt gewerkt en in de andere reeks binnen verschillende vormen wordt gewerkt.