Antonio Damasio, MD. Ph.D. USC University Professor, David Dornsife Chair in Neuroscience and Professor of Psychology and Neurology

“Throughout the history of aphasiology there have been a number of test batteries designed to assess language disturbances.  Although some of these instruments have become quite popular and are true workhorses of clinical aphasia, few of them are comprehensive and none has been designed according to current theoretical developments in cognitive science.  Curtiss and Yamada’s CYCLE battery is a true exception, blending harmoniously the needs of the clinician with the constraints imposed by modern linguistics and psychology.  I have had the opportunity to use the battery…and I have discussed its nature with critical investigators in the field who had nothing but praise for its features…”

Harold Goodglass, Ph.D. (d)  The Harold Goodglass Aphasia Center, Boston University, Department of Neurology

“…From our experimental use of these test items I know how well designed it is to probe language production and comprehension in children and in adults who have language processing disorders.

I know of no other instrument which approaches your test as a survey of syntactical competence in English.  It should certainly be made available widely for other potential users.”

“This language test is very well designed to examine a large number of the basic essential morphological and syntactic structures of English for both comprehension and production.  The range of linguistic constructions is wider, they are tested in greater depth, and they are presented much more naturally than is generally the case.  Their relation to the graphics is more accurate, and the graphics themselves are superb: free of confusing detail, lively, and very appealing and warm—one might even say “cuddly” —without being distracting.

These materials have been carefully designed for use with young children: they utilize familiar and non-threatening human and animal situations and roles (e.g. a child eating spaghetti, a mother helping a child climb a playground slide, clowns, cowboys, dogs and cats).  It is interesting to note, however, that adults do not feel embarrassed at being presented with these test items– they apparently are not taken to be too “childish” as I had feared when I  began to have my assistants use them.  Thus, the CYCLE can be used with a wide variety of language disabled children and adults, and it could be incorporated into proficiency tests for normal children and adults learning English as a second language, also…”

“…This has proved an invaluable adjunct in the neuropsychological assessment of children with suspected disorders of language…

My colleagues and I have found the test sensitive and also fun for the children.  They enjoy the drawings and therefore are more prepared to cooperate. Speech pathologists and teachers in the schools for handicapped children have also expressed great interest in the test…

Paula Tallal, Ph.D. Board of Governors Professor in Neuroscience, Rutgers;  Director of Scientific Learning Corporation
“…I have had extensive experience with standardized speech, language, and academic tests.  I cannot praise the CYCLE enough for the careful attention given to both linguistic theory and psychometric aspects of testing.  It is an outstanding test, and is in a class all its own…”

Eran Zaidel Ph.D.  Professor Emeritus, Department of Psychology, UCLA

“…As you know I have worked with several versions of the test and strongly believe that the test fills an important lacuna in assessing language development and disabilities, both congenital and acquired.

Overall the battery is at once linguistically informed, methodologically sensitive, and comprehensive.  I have used the test extensively with special neurosurgical (complete commissurotomy) patients and found it ideal for assessing language comprehension in a speech-free setting.

The test format is simple, the illustrations are natural and informative without being complex, and the grading system is easy to use…”