The Verbal Behavior Assessment Scale (VerBAS): construct validity, reliability, and internal consistency.

The team built a short checklist called VerBAS. It has 15 items that caregivers fill out.

They gave the scale to people with severe developmental delay. Then they checked if the scores stayed the same when different staff used it.

The scale held together well. It sorted communication into three clear jobs: asking, answering, and chatting.

Caregivers agreed with each other, so the tool looked trustworthy.

Padilla et al. (2021) later tested VB-MAPP, a bigger language map. Their work keeps the same goal but updates the tool set.

Đorđević et al. (2016) moved from caregiver report to direct testing with adults. Their study shows what happens when you switch methods but stay on the communication track.

Hatfield et al. (2019) pooled dozens of parent-response studies. Their big picture says parent talk links to child talk, yet teaching parents more talk does not always lift child words. VerBAS gives you a quick way to track that link.

You now have a five-minute caregiver scale that is psychometrically sound. Use it at intake, after six months, or anytime you need a fast snapshot of communicative functions before you pick language goals.