ERIC Number: EJ1015560
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2013-Aug
Pages: 14
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1058-0360
EISSN: N/A
A Multidimensional Investigation of Children's /r/ Productions: Perceptual, Ultrasound, and Acoustic Measures
Klein, Harriet B.; McAllister Byun, Tara; Davidson, Lisa; Grigos, Maria I.
American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, v22 n3 p540-553 Aug 2013
Purpose: This study explored relationships among perceptual, ultrasound, and acoustic measurements of children's correct and misarticulated /r/ sounds. Longitudinal data documenting changes across these parameters were collected from 2 children who acquired /r/ over a period of intervention and were compared with data from children with typical speech. Method: Participants were 3 children with typical speech, recorded once, and 2 children with /r/ misarticulation, recorded over 7-8 months. The following data from /r/ produced in nonwords were collected: perceptually rated accuracy, ultrasound measures of tongue shape, and F3-F2 distance. Results: Regression models revealed significant associations among perceptual, ultrasound, and acoustic measures of /r/ accuracy. The inclusion of quantitative tongue-shape measurements improved the match between the ultrasound and perceptual/acoustic data. Perceptually incorrect /r/ productions were found to feature posteriorly located peaked tongue shapes. Of the children who were seen longitudinally, 1 developed a bunched /r/ and 1 demonstrated retroflexion. The children with typical speech also differed in their tongue shapes. Conclusion: Results support the validity of using qualitative and quantitative ultrasound measures to characterize the accuracy of children's /r/ sounds. Clinically, findings suggest that it is important to encourage pharyngeal constriction while allowing children to find the /r/ tongue shape that best fits their individual vocal tract. (Contains 12 figures.)
Descriptors: Speech Impairments, Articulation (Speech), Acoustics, Measures (Individuals), Allied Health Personnel, Speech Language Pathology, Speech Therapy, Intervention, Statistical Analysis, Regression (Statistics), Human Body, Diagnostic Tests, Longitudinal Studies, Comparative Analysis, North American English, Children, Males
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). 10801 Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD 20852. Tel: 800-638-8255; Fax: 301-571-0457; e-mail: subscribe@asha.org; Web site: http://ajslp.asha.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: New York
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A