Purpose: Phonologically complex targets (e.g., [pl-]) are understood to facilitate widespread gains following speech sound intervention, and yet, available research largely features word-"initial" clusters. The present study investigates intervention effects following treatment of complex clusters presented in word-"final"…

The paper describes an instructional procedure for teaching distinctive features to children with articulation problems. The procedure uses minimal pairs to teach a feature. A four step program is described that considers conceptual skills, discrimination and production training, as well as carry-over. (Author/SBH)

This paper examines the need for a transcription system that allows the symbolization of nonnormal articulations. The paper then describes transcription systems proposed by clinical phoneticians and speech pathologists, especially PRDS (phonetic representation of disordered speech) symbols and extensions of the International Phonetic Alphabet.…

The phonological systems of 40 functional misarticulators, ages 40-80 months, were examined in terms of the nature and variation of phonetic inventories and phonotactic constraints. Evidence suggests that these properties of disordered systems represent delays in the normal acquisition process and are not otherwise deviant. (Author/JDD)

Six functionally misarticulating preschool children were taught to produce [r] and one other sound absent from their phonetic inventory. For 86 percent of the 28 monitored sounds, generalization was consistent with pretreatment stimulability skills; production of stimulable sounds tended to improve regardless of whether treatment target was a…

Three studies of phonological knowledge and generalization were conducted with six functionally misarticulating children, aged 3-4. Results indicated that productive phonological knowledge of the sound system influenced the amount of generalization learning. The extent of generalization learning was associated with the point on the knowledge…

An auditory masking procedure was successfully used to identify those speech handicapped children who would maintain or improve the accuracy of speech production during a three-week treatment break. Subjects were 28 primary grade children with relatively low levels of phoneme acquisition. Results have implications for scheduling and treatment…

The article describes a 6-step procedure for using efficiently single-word responses elicited by articulation tests. The procedure involves assessing all consonants within a word rather than only test-target consonants. Responses yield information about articulation ability; frequency of target attainment, substitutions, and deletions; variability…

A profile analysis procedure was used with the Carrow Auditory-Visual Abilities Test to aid in the identification of systematic modality preferences in two preschool children with articulation disorders. Critical values are identified to facilitate the identification of the child's strengths and weaknesses at the subtest level. (Author/DB)

Ten esophageal speakers and ten normal speakers produced repetitions of the disyllable /mama/ using five different conditions of syllable stress. Nine normal listeners judged both relative and absolute syllable stress. Reliable judgments were made of the syllable stress, and speakers were able to effect systematic changes in listener perceptions…

The case report describes the speech characteristics of an eight-year-old normally hearing but misarticulating boy and the therapy procedures used over a two-month period. Cooperation and motivation were maintained through the use of cued speech to correct misarticulation of /s/ and /z/ sounds. (Author)

A study involving 20 Afrikaans-speaking children with cerebral palsy found that recurrent otitis media in early childhood had a negative effect on articulation abilities of the 7 to 11-year-old children but that other factors such as intelligence also played a role. (JDD)

This article addresses the rationale for and issues related to the use of speech appliances, especially a removable speech appliance that positions the tongue to produce the correct /r/ phoneme. Research results suggest that this appliance was successful with a large group of clients. (Author/DB)

This response to commentaries on EC 604 058 attempts to update and clarify views on the application of principles of assessment and intervention in phonological disorders in children. The lack of empirical demonstration that this approach is more effective and efficient than existing procedures is noted. (Author/DB)

This study of 60 young adults found that longer closure durations occurred in initial stop consonants compared with medial stops, and in bilabial stops compared with lingua-alveolar stops. Semi-intelligible hearing-impaired speakers produced stop consonants with longer closure durations than hearing young adults and hearing-impaired young adults…