Syntactic processing was explored in nine individuals who stutter (IWS). Grammaticality judgments and event-related brain potentials (ERPs) were obtained while participants read sentences, half containing verb-agreement violations, via computer or paper. Judgment accuracy of IWS for the online task, but not offline, was lower, especially for more…

This study examined responsiveness of the suck central pattern generator to external stimulation, based on premise that early control of sucking and smiling sets stage for more differentiated use of orofacial muscle system for speech. A device for the stimulation of intraoral tissues in neonates, called the actifier, features a wide frequency…

This study investigated changes in the speech patterns of young adult male subjects when stuttering was modified by deliberately prolonging speech. Three subjects showed clinically significant stuttering reductions when using prolonged speech to reduce their stuttering. Resulting speech was perceptually stutter free. Acoustic and…

Retrospective parental reports of earlier "twin language" were obtained for 82 twin pairs (ages 7 to 13), in which at least one twin had a speech-language impairment, and 94 control twin pairs. Parental report of twin language was higher for children with speech-language impairments than for those with normal language. (Author/CR)

This study investigated lower-lip motor processes underlying production of iambic and trochaic metrical forms with 16 children (ages 3 and 4) and eight adults. Movement patterns were well differentiated for both groups but in qualitatively different ways. Results suggest that metrical forms are perceptually and linguistically established.…

Presents materials and methods that have been found to be effective in teaching addition and subtraction in specialized schools for the speech- and hearing-impaired. Concludes that there has been considerable success with students learning necessary mathematical skills by completing activities. Contains 11 references. (ASK)

One of a series of letters to parents of children with developmental apraxia of speech, this letter discusses other problems associated with the disorder including language development problems, academic problems, motor skill problems, and chewing and swallowing difficulties. An annotated bibliography of two further readings for parents is…

Summarizes research on structure of gesture produced in absence of speech. Finds that gestures of both hearing individuals who have been asked not to speak and deaf individuals who depend solely on gesture to communicate (including homesigners) exhibit characteristics typically associated with speech; gestures are segmented and linear rather than…

This study examined phonological changes in the conversational speech of children between the ages of 2 and 3 years. Phonological analysis of conversational samples obtained from the same children at three-month intervals showed significant differences among children in rates of final consonant deletion, cluster reduction, vowelization, and…

Discussion of speech sampling in the assessment of children with phonological disorders focuses on the use of nonlinear phonological analysis, a method whereby multiple aspects or levels of a child's phonological system are examined. Principles and suggestions offer general guidance for adequate sample elicitation. (Contains references.)…

This study evaluated recorded performances of 84 children of whom 22 had persistent stuttering. Although initially the persistent stuttering group had significantly poorer phonological skills, assessment after 1 and 2 years found no differences indicating faster phonological improvement for the persistent stuttering group. Results raise questions…

Ethical considerations in relationships with people who have severe speech and communication problems must be based on acceptance that the individual has something of value to communicate even if the means for expressive communication are limited. There is an ethical imperative on the more competent communication partner to help the disabled…

This study used electropalatography (EPG) to identify place of articulation for lingual plosive targets /t/, /d/, /k/ and /g/ in the speech of 15 school age children with repaired cleft palate. Perceptual judgements indicated that all children had correct velar placement for /k/, /g/ targets, but /t/, /d/ targets were produced as errors involving…

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…

A major goal of phonological intervention is to help bring a child's speech development to within normal range for his or her developmental stage. Reaching that goal may take longer than anticipated for some children. This paper illustrates an in-depth retrospective evaluation of assessment data from one child with a phonological impairment, who…