Phonological investigation of speech sound errors in children with autism spectrum disorders

Abstract

Few studies have explored the comorbidity of autism and articulation/phonological disorders. In this study, phonological analyses were performed on eight children with autism. Speech elicitation included object naming and a connected speech sample. Data analyses involved phonetic inventory, phonological process analyses, and percentage consonants correct. Results showed that all eight children exhibited both delayed phonological behavior as well as some atypical phonological processes. Findings also revealed a strong relationship between severity of phonological behavior and severity of language impairment. Group comparisons showed that children with moderate–severe language impairment exhibited more typical and atypical phonological processes than children with mild–moderate language impairment, and overall correlation between phonological severity and language impairment was high. The findings contrast with some earlier studies but support and extend recent research showing unusual phonological trends in some children with autism.

Keywords:

• Phonological disorder
• Speech sounds
• Phonological process
• Autism

Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank Dr Andrew Meisler for his comments and suggestions as well as much appreciated support and guidance in the final drafts of this manuscript. The authors also thank Dr Robert Domingo for his thoughtful suggestions.