Abstract:
Empirical studies suggest that children with speech sound disorders (SSD) can present with concomitant language and/or literacy impairments. Research also supports the comorbidity of motoric deficits in children with speech and language impairments, but the cumulative research exploring this comorbidity is lacking. The present study investigated the complex relationships that may relate to speech sound abilities, including phonological awareness (PA), rapid automatized naming (RAN), and non-speech-based motoric abilities, among an early school-age sample. Standardized assessments were administered to obtain various measures of each ability. Results indicated significant relationships between speech sound abilities and PA, PA and RAN, GFTA-3 SIW and SIS subtests, and non-speech-based motoric proficiency and speech sound abilities. There was no significant relationship between speech sound abilities and RAN or PA/RAN and non-speech-based motoric abilities. The potential causation of these comorbidities and clinical implications will be discussed.
Keywords: Communication Sciences and Disorders