A Comparison of Compensatory Articulation Appearance Rate between Single Word Test and Connected Speech Test for Children with Velopharyngeal Insufficiency

Jung, Se-A; Park, Mikeung; Hwang, Mina

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Commun Sci Disord. 2010;15(2): 220-231.

Se-A Jung^` , Mikeung Park^` , and Mina Hwang^`

정세아(Se-A Jung)| 박미경(Mikeung Park)| 황민아(Mina Hwang)

ABSTRACT

children with velopharyngeal insufficiency due to cleft palate produce compensatory articulation at a different rate depending on the type of speech task. Specifically, we compared their frequencies of compensatory articulation in a single word production test and in connected speech.
Methods
The participants were ten children with velopharyngeal insufficiency of ages ranging from 3 to 7 and their main articulation problem was compensatory articulation. Cleft type, the time of surgery, and the method of primary palatal surgery were not controled. A single word production task was generated by adjusting three formal articulation tests. Each child was tested with the single word production task and was asked play with the examiner to obtain connected speech. The rate of compensatory articulation was calculated from the two types of speech samples. The occurrence of compensatory articulation was analyzed according to the manner and the place of articulation.
Results
In terms of the total number of compensatory articulation, the children with velopharyngeal insufficiency exhibited significantly higher rate of compensatory articulation during connected speech relative to single word production. Further analysis based on the manner and the place of articualtion revealed that such difference was observed only in some specific types of phonemes. The children produced compensatory articulation more frequently in connected speech than in single word production, when they produced velar stops and affricates which are all palatal in Korean.
Discussion & Conclusion
Based on the findings of the present study, it is recommended to obtain connected speech as well was single word production in order to evaluate compensatory articulation of children with cleft palate. It is also suggested that for planning effective intervention of compensatory articulation, an in-depth analysis of compensatory articulation is necessary rather than a binary analysis procedure such as percent correct consonant. In addition, a list of words oriented to pressure consonants needs to be developed for more efficient assessment of compensatory articulation.