Assessing speech sound disorders in preterm children

Abstract

Background: Speech sound disorders (SSD) encompass both articulation and phonological deficits. Proper assessment of SSD is indispensable for effective speech therapy. It is unclear which research tool or combination of tools is optimal to diagnose SSD in young, preterm children. Aim: The aim of this study is to explore if naming pictures and repeating non-words are as valid as an analysis of spontaneous speech using phonological analysis procedures to diagnose SSD. Subsequently, the implications of the results for assessing SSD in the clinical speech and language practice will be analysed. Methods: This study has a descriptive, cross-sectional design. Data were collected at University Medical Centre Erasmus MC-Sophia during 2012-2015. The participants were eighteen 3-year-old preterm children. Based on a sample of the spontaneous speech, the utterances of the child were analysed using FAN and the phonological mean length of utterance (PMLU) was calculated. The number of correct pronounced initial consonants in Logo-art Articulatieonderzoek (naming pictures) and CAI (repeating non-words) was determined. The parents were asked to rate the speech of their child. Correlations between all variables were calculated. Results: There is a statistically significant moderate to strong correlation between FAN (initial consonants), Logo-art initial consonants (Logo-art-IC) and CAI initial consonants (CAI-IC). A complete FAN analysis and computing a PMLU are time-consuming assessments. However, they are very suitable for young children. Conclusion and recommendations: Compared to FAN (initial consonants), Logo-art-IC and CAI-IC are a good alternative to get insight in the use of initial consonants in young children. For speech and language therapists in a private practice it is recommended to start speech assessment in young children with Logo-art Articulatieonderzoek and CAI. If these assessments do not provide a clear diagnosis, supplementary assessments as FAN and a PMLU score, will provide more detailed diagnostic information about SSD.