COMPRENDRE PROTOCOL: A Computerized Protocol for Assessing Oral Language Comprehension and Executive Functions in French-Speaking Children Aged 5-8.

We present a computerized protocol that allows the evaluation of oral language comprehension in French and executive function in both verbal and nonverbal modalities. This protocol can be administered to children between 5 and 8 years old and can be used for language and executive function evaluations, either separately or in combination. We specifically designed or adapted four language tasks for the assessment of various linguistic abilities, including phonological, lexico-semantic, and syntactic comprehension. Additionally, three different tasks are proposed to assess executive functions, encompassing working memory, updating, and inhibition abilities in both verbal and nonverbal modalities. We developed this protocol to conduct a rapid screening of oral language comprehension and executive function abilities in French-speaking children, with typical or atypical language development. The construction of this protocol was motivated by fundamental research questions concerning the development of oral language and its interactions with executive functions in French children during the early years of formal schooling and learning acquisitions.