Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2019;71(5-6):216-227.
doi: 10.1159/000499426. Epub 2019 Jul 3.

A Psycholinguistic Framework for Diagnosis and Treatment Planning of Developmental Speech Disorders

Hayo Terband  1 , Ben Maassen  2 , Edwin Maas  3
Affiliations

A Psycholinguistic Framework for Diagnosis and Treatment Planning of Developmental Speech Disorders

Hayo Terband et al. Folia Phoniatr Logop. 2019.

Abstract

Background: Differential diagnosis and treatment planning of developmental speech disorders (DSD) remains a major challenge in paediatric speech-language pathology. Different classification systems exist, in which subtypes are differentiated based on their theoretical cause and in which the definitions generally refer to speech production processes. Accordingly, various intervention methods have been developed aiming at different parts of the speech production process. Diagnostic classification in these systems, however, is primarily based on a description of behavioural speech symptoms rather than on underlying deficits.

Purpose: In this paper, we present a process-oriented approach to diagnosis and treatment planning of DSD. Our framework comprises two general diagnostic categories: developmental delay and developmental disorder. Within these categories, treatment goals/targets and treatment methods are formulated at the level of processes and rules/representations.

Conclusion: A process-oriented approach to diagnosis and treatment planning holds important advantages, offering direct leads for treatment aimed at the underlying impairment, tailored to the specific needs of the individual and adjusted to the developmental trajectory.

Keywords: Differential diagnosis; Speech development; Speech disorders; Treatment planning.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Adult model of speech processing [33, 34] (adapted from Levelt [39, 51], Van der Merwe [40, 50], and Guenther [45, 53]), displaying the sensorimotor and memory functions involved in speech production and perception.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Campbell TF, Functional treatment outcomes in young children with motor speech disorders . Clinical Management of Motor Speech Disorders in Children. In: Caruso A, Strand E, editors. New York: Thieme; 1999. pp. pp. 385–96.
    1. Conti-Ramsden G, Botting N. Social difficulties and victimization in children with SLI at 11 years of age. J Speech Lang Hear Res. 2004 Feb;47((1)):145–61. - PubMed
    1. van Daal J, Verhoeven L, van Balkom H. Behaviour problems in children with language impairment. J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2007 Nov;48((11)):1139–47. - PubMed
    1. McCormack J, McLeod S, McAllister L, Harrison LJ. A systematic review of the association between childhood speech impairment and participation across the lifespan. Int J Speech Lang Pathol. 2009;11((2)):155–70.
    1. Felsenfeld S, Broen PA, McGue M. A 28-year follow-up of adults with a history of moderate phonological disorder: educational and occupational results. J Speech Hear Res. 1994 Dec;37((6)):1341–53. - PubMed

Publication types