This report describes three extensions to a classification system for paediatric speech sound disorders termed the Speech Disorders Classification System (SDCS). Part I describes a classification extension to the SDCS to differentiate motor speech disorders from speech delay and to differentiate among three sub-types of motor speech disorders.…

Pragmatic function and level of linguistic stress in five speech delayed children (four to six years old) were studied as they relate to variability in phonological performance. Results indicated that both type of pragmatic function and level of linguistic stress were associated with reduction in the occurrence of natural phonological processes.…

The goal of this study was to classify children with speech sound disorders (SSD) empirically, using factor analytic techniques. Participants were 3-7-year olds enrolled in speech/language therapy (N=185). Factor analysis of an extensive battery of speech and language measures provided support for two distinct factors, representing the skill…

This study attempted to identify diagnostic markers for suspected developmental apraxia of speech (SD-DAS) in 30 children with either SD-DAS or speech delay using analytic procedures from metrical phonology. Findings indicated that, although lexical metrical patterns did not differentiate the groups, syllable omissions persisted until much later…

Five conditions for sampling the continuous speech of 12 speech-delayed children were defined and compared. Conditions differed on variables associated with examiner behavior and stimulus materials. General findings of few significant differences associated with sampling conditions support the validity of continous speech sampling for phonologic…

Discusses a study that compared speech and prosody-voice profiles of children (ages 4-14) with suspected developmental apraxia of speech (DAS) to profiles of 73 children with speech delay. Also describes a second study of 20 children (ages 3-9) that investigated whether stress was a diagnostic marker of DAS. (Author/CR)

A study used the conversational speech samples from 19 children (ages 4-14) with suspected developmental apraxia of speech (DAS) to investigate the characteristics of the disability. The results of the study, combined with the results of two previous studies, indicate inappropriate stress is a diagnostic marker for DAS. (Author/CR)

The self-monitoring and generalization behaviors of eight preschool children were observed as they progressed in management programs for their developmental phonological disorders. Self-monitoring behaviors varied in type, frequency, and point of onset in relation to generalization data. Self-monitoring behaviors did not always nor only occur in…

A conceptual framework for management of phonological disorders is proposed. The framework includes a 10-element system for describing the structure of management programs and invokes a diagnostic classification system for determining appropriate management content. Data from three serial studies of management structure describe four modes of…

A diagnostic classification system for phonological disorders is presented which is oriented to the goals of explanation, prediction, and management. Data supporting the validity and utility of the system are also provided, based on a retrospective classification of 43 children with delayed speech. (Author/SEW)

A study of 35 3-year-olds followed since infancy in a university-affiliated pediatrics clinic and 50 Native American children followed since infancy in a tribal health clinic found early recurrent otitis media with effusion was only associated with increased risk for speech disorder in the Native American children. (Contains extensive references.)…

This study provides a clinical profile of 178 children (ages 3-6) with developmental phonological disorders, based on prior reports and new data on 64 children. Data discussed include gender, age, and severity; speech profiles; prosody-voice profiles; causal-correlates profiles; and a prevalence profile. (Author/JDD)

Speech analyses performed on data from 61 speech-delayed children (ages 3-6) found that, in comparison to the validity of conversational speech samples for integrated speech, language, and prosodic analyses, articulation tests appear to yield neither typical nor optimal measures of speech performance. (Author/JDD)

Ten preschool children with developmental phonological disorders were followed for seven years. Analyses characterize the sequence, rates, and error patterns of long-term speech-sound normalization in relation to developmental perspectives. Findings support the hypothesis of a critical period for speech-sound development, with long-term…

Fifteen caregivers each glossed a simultaneously videotaped and audiotaped sample of their child with speech delay in conversation with a clinician. Comparison with a reference gloss developed for each sample indicated that caregivers accurately understood an average of 58% of the utterances and 73% of the words. (Author/DB)