Purpose
The present study aimed to assess specific aspects of speech fluency in children with specific language impairment (SLI). This included examining the typology of speech disruption and rate (in words and syllables per minute), across different age groups.
Methods
A total of 50 children, aged 3 to 7 years old, presenting with nonverbal IQ and hearing thresholds within normal limits (without the presence of stuttering) participated in the study. Children were divided into two groups: G1 (SLI) included 25 children (7 girls and 18 boys) and G2 (typical development) included 25 children matched on age and gender with G1. Each child was shown a figure and asked to discuss what s/he liked about the figure. Each speech sample included 200 fluent syllables or 100 fluent words.
Results
Between-group analyses demonstrated that children aged 3 to 4 years old in G1 had lower speech rate than their age-matched peers from G2. Within-group analyses revealed no differences in disruption typologies between age groups in G1 participants. In contrast, hesitation was the most frequent typology for 4- to 5-year-old G2 children, whereas hesitation and word repetition typologies were observed in 6- to 7-year-old G2 children.
Conclusion
Children with suspected SLI between the ages of 3 to 4 years old showed a reduction in word and syllable production. Hesitation-type speech disruptions were prominently used by typically developing children, regardless of age, and were not observed in SLI children.
Child; Language development disorders; Child language; Speech; language and hearing sciences; Speech