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

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 <i>α</i> = 0.861; McDonald's <i>ω</i> = 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.