Single-Word Speech Intelligibility in Children and Adults With Down Syndrome

Abstract

Results show age-related patterns in speech intelligibility in persons with DS and identify the contribution of dimensions of vowel production to intelligibility. The methods used clarify the phonetic basis of reduced intelligibility, with implications for assessment and treatment.

Use of electropalatography in the treatment of speech disorders in children with Down syndrome: a randomized controlled trial

“…The percentage of in-telligible words produced by children with DS is variably reported, but Rupela et al (2016), in a study of seven children aged between 3;04 and 8;11, reported a range of between 26% and 89% compared with 91-99% for typically developing (TD) children aged between 2;11 and 5;01. Wild et al (2018) also found a difference between male and female speakers in a word-identification task. They report that whilst lay listeners correctly identified more than 40% of words produced by females with DS by age 9, male speakers did not reach this level until age 16.…”

“…Wild et al . () also found a difference between male and female speakers in a word‐identification task. They report that whilst lay listeners correctly identified more than 40% of words produced by females with DS by age 9, male speakers did not reach this level until age 16.…”

“…Wild et al . () believe that a single test cannot capture all aspects of intelligibility in DS due to many contributory factors. An approach adopting both analytical and subjective measures might provide more insights into intelligibility and also be capable of detecting any meaningful post‐intervention change.…”

“…For the participants in this study, all of whom presented with language impairment, the lists would have contained words which were unfamiliar to them and therefore the test, in parts, functionally became a measure of non-word repetition rather than a measure of intelligibility. Wild et al (2018) believe that a single test cannot capture all aspects of intelligibility in DS due to many contributory factors. An approach adopting both analytical and subjective measures might provide more insights into intelligibility and also be capable of detecting any meaningful post-intervention change.…”

“…An approach adopting both analytical and subjective measures might provide more insights into intelligibility and also be capable of detecting any meaningful post-intervention change. A single-word identification test using simple CV, VC and CVC known target stimuli (as in Wild et al 2018) presented both aurally and in pictorial and written format could provide an objective measure of the child's speech, whereas a parental questionnaire such as the Intelligibility in Context Scale (ICS; McLeod et al 2012), which uses an interval scale, could identify any change in the severity of the communication problem.…”