DISORD-PHONO&ARTIC

Week 1: Introduction to Speech Sound Disorders (SSD)

• Course Overview: Lecture covering syllabus and importance of studying SSDs.

What is a Speech Sound Disorder?

• Definition: Impairment in the perception and production of speech sounds impacting intelligibility.

  • Articulation Disorders: Errors in the production of individual sounds, lesser impact on intelligibility.

  • Phonological Disorders: Multiple sound error patterns persisting beyond certain age levels, greater impact on intelligibility due to phonological representation issues.

Speech Production Processes

• Elements involved:

  • Concept & Language Formulation: Brain processes encoding linguistic messages.

  • Speech Motor Planning & Programming: Brain signals for movement and execution of speech.

  • Execution: enacting the movement.

How Speech Sounds are Produced

• Key Subsystems:

  • Respiration: Provides airflow essential for speech.

  • Phonation: Vocal fold movement for sound production.

  • Resonation: Modification of sound from vocal tract.

  • Articulation: Physical shaping of sound using articulators.

  • Prosody: Rhythm and melody of speech.

Respiratory System

• Function: Supplies oxygen, removes CO2.

  • Structures include lungs, trachea, diaphragm, etc.

  • Airflow is vital for speech production.

  • We speak on an exhale, 90% EX-10% IN

  • at rest 60% EX-40% IN

• Prepatory Breath: breath taken to prepare for speech (more volume=more air)

Articulators

• Components:

  • Active Articulators: Move during speech (e.g. tongue, lips).

  • Passive Articulators: Remain still (e.g. alveolar ridge, hard palate).

Theories of Phonology

• Phonological Theories: Study of underlying forms and surface forms in speech sound production.

• Natural Phonology: Features and processes explaining child phonological systems.

• Nonlinear Phonology: Hierarchical organization of sounds beyond segmental features.

Speech Sound Acquisition

• Early Development:

  • Initial phonetic inventories (2-3 years) include basic sounds: /p, b, m, d, n/.

  • Vowel acquisition by age 3; consonant clusters develop with age.

Intelligibility Across Age**

• Developmental Expectations:

  • By age 2: 50% intelligibility

  • By age 3: 75% intelligibility

  • By age 4-5: 100% intelligibility

• Vowel sound acquisition patterns and expected clusters developmental milestones.

Independent Analysis of Speech**

• Compare child’s productions against target forms (dependent on context: single words vs. connected speech).

  • Analyzing speech intelligibility and production for accurate assessment of SSDs.

Developmental Charts & Resources**

• Various resources for additional reference, such as normative data and acquisition patterns for English and other languages.