Background: Speech sound disorders (SSDs) in children are heterogeneous. Differentiating children with SSDs into distinct subtypes is important so that each child receives a treatment approach well suited to the particular difficulties they are experiencing. Aims: To study the distinct underlying processes that differentiate phonological…

In this article, we discuss the relationship between instrumental and perceptual phonetic analyses. Using data drawn from typical and atypical speech production, we argue that the use of two-tier transcriptions, which can compare and contrast perceptual and instrumental information, is valuable both for our general understanding of the mechanisms…

This brief article reflects on some pitfalls inherent in the learning and teaching of segmental phonetic transcription. We suggest that a gestural interpretation to disordered speech data, in conjunction with segmental phonetic transcription, can add valuable insight into patterns of disordered speech, and that a gestural orientation should form…

Poor polysyllabic word (PSW) production seems to mark paediatric speech impairment as well as impairment in language, literacy and phonological processing. As impairment in these domains may only manifest in PSWs, PSW production may provide unique information that is often excluded from clinical decision making because insufficient PSWs are…

A child with a speech sound disorder may understand words and phrases and use them to talk. However, if a child's speech sounds different from his peers who are the same age, gender or ethnic group, or if he/she frequently avoids talking because he/she is hard to understand, this child may have a speech sound disorder. In this article, the author…

This article describes an approach to the treatment of young children whose speech problems are classified in the category of "persistent sound system disorder." The approach fosters development of stimulability skills through broadening of the phonetic inventory early in the treatment process. A case study illustrates treatment…

A case study describes the use of a facilitating phonetic context to decrease the occurrence of an unusual form of gliding. The process of differentiating the phones /l/ and /j/ involved systematic changes differing from the expected route of development. Results support the value of a key word approach in treating recalcitrant phonological…

This article describes a treatment program for a child with a speech impairment, which focused on increasing the size of the phonetic inventory by "teaching" stimulability. Application of the treatment approach is demonstrated in a case study. (Author/DB)

A cooperative service delivery model was successfully developed between a university clinic and a public school system to evaluate and treat a child (age seven) with phoneme-specific nasal emission, enabling the child to establish correct production in the clinic setting and transfer production in a school treatment program. (Author/DB)