Comparison of the speech of 37 preschool children with speech-language impairment (SLI), 40 language-matched children, and 45 age-matched children found that errors in a set of morphemes marking tense characterized the SLI children. Evidence supporting the use of these morphemes as clinical markers for SLI is offered. (DB)

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…

The definition of dysarthria and its incidence as a symptom in several disabling conditions are addressed. Information is also provided on the effects of dysarthria on daily life activities; the role of the speech-language pathologist; and evidence of the benefits of treatment. A case study is provided. (CR)

This study examined the speech of 54 young Spanish-speaking (Puerto Rican dialect) children with phonological disorders. It described the mean percentage-of-occurrence and standard deviation of phonological processes and the number and type of nontargeted process errors. Specific patterns characterizing the speech of these children were…

A survey of 1,184 speech language pathologists found that of 2,628 children (grades 1-12) who stuttered, 62.6% had other concurring speech disorders, language disorders, or non-speech-language disorders. Articulation disorders (33.5%) and phonology disorders (12.7%) were the most frequently reported. Males were more likely to exhibit co-occurring…

A study of an 11-year-old boy with speech-language disorders investigated the effectiveness of an intervention protocol designed to increase the child's elaborative word knowledge of sets of words for which he demonstrated naming problems but comprehended. The child was able to decrease his naming response time and error rate. (Author/CR)

This article explores the gene-finding process for developmental speech disorders (DSDs), specifically disorders of articulation/phonology and stuttering. It reviews existing behavioral genetic studies of these phenotypes, discusses roadblocks that may impede the molecular study of DSDs, and reviews the findings of the small number of molecular…

A study investigated frequency change and duration of the second formant (F2) transition in speech samples recorded close to stuttering onset in 10 preschoolers who stutter, 10 who recovered from stuttering, and 10 controls. Near stuttering onset, children whose stuttering persisted demonstrated significantly smaller frequency change than the…

In a study of adults' attitudes toward children with limited linguistic competence, four groups of judges listened to audiotaped samples of preschool children's speech and responded to questionnaire items addressing child attributes (e.g., intelligence, social maturity). Systemic biases were revealed toward children with limited communication…

The use of visual biofeedback in the treatment of individuals who have residual phonological errors is discussed. Biofeedback is conceptualized as a cognitive treatment that requires the client's analysis of visual information and then use of that information in developing correct productions of residual phonological errors. Results suggest the…

The three general approaches for measuring speech intelligibility in young children are open-set word identification, closed-set word identification, and rating scales. Positive and negative aspects of the various procedures for measuring speech intelligibility are discussed. (Author/DB)

TALK (Talk Aid using pre-Loaded Knowledge) is a computer system linked to a speech synthesizer which enables nonspeaking people to engage in real-time social conversation. TALK provides categories of general comments that can be used whenever a suitable specific response is unavailable. Results are reported of a study evaluating effectiveness of…

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 reviews the principles and shortcomings associated with the mechanistic and holistic models of teaching and learning. Speech language pathologists and teachers are urged to exploit the plurality of theories available in developing effective interventions. (DB)

This study attempted to quantify diagnostic characteristics related to consonant production of developmental verbal dyspraxia (DVD) in 11 Dutch children (ages 6 and 7). The study was able to quantify diagnostic characteristics but found very few qualitative differences in error patterns between children with DVD and 11 age-matched children with…