Work

Phonetic Variability in Residual Speech Sound Disorders

Year: 2011

Type: article

Abstract: PURPOSE: To explore whether subgroups of children with residual speech sound disorders (R-SSDs) can be identified through multiple measures of token-to-token phonetic variability. METHOD: Children with R-SSDs were recorded during a rapid multisyllabic picture naming task and an oral diadochokinetic task. Transcription-based and acoustic measures of token-to-token variability were derived. Articulation accuracy and general indices of language skills were also measured. RESULTS: Low correlations were observed between transcription-based and acoustic measures of phonetic variability, and among the acoustic measures themselves. Children who were the most variable on one measure were not necessarily highly variable on other measures. Transcription-based measures of variability were associated with language skills. CONCLUSIONS: Measures of phonetic variability did not identify children in the sample as consistently high or low. Data do not support the notion that clear subgroups based on phonetic variability can be reliably identified in children with R-SSDs. The link between highly variable phonetic output (quantified by transcription-based measures) and lower language skills requires further exploration.

Source: Topics in Language Disorders

DOI: 10.1097/tld.0b013e318217b875

Authors: Jonathan L. Preston, Laura L. Koenig

Institutions: Haskins Laboratories, Southern Connecticut State University, Long Island University

Language: English

Topic: Language Development and Disorders

Subfield: Developmental and Educational Psychology

Field: Psychology

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funders: National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development