Speech production
Speech is the primary mechanism for communication among humans
and therefore fundamental to social interaction. Individuals
with Down syndrome experience a number of difficulties with
speech and language development. Parents report that among the most problematic
for social interaction is poor speech
production (or intelligibility).
Research
This study will investigate the causes of poor speech
production. In particular, the study will examine the impact
of physiological differences in the vocal tract, the
relationship between early speech errors and the later
emergence of stuttering, the role of hearing loss, the extent
of speech production problems and their variability, and the
impact of speech production on the success of speech and
language therapy.
Investigators
Partners and advisors
Location
Study results will be published in peer-reviewed scientific publications. Practice
implications will be published in periodicals for families and professionals, including
Down Syndrome Research and Practice
and incorporated into freely available Down Syndrome Topics
advice and information summaries and Down Syndrome Issues
and Information books. Open Access articles and summaries will be provided
for reproduction in the newsletters and journals of associations, support groups
and professional societies. The study results will also be shared
through the charity's training courses and its contributions to
conferences in the UK and worldwide.
Impact
- Improved understanding of the causes of poor speech
intelligibility among children with Down syndrome
- Improved understanding of the impact of speech
production difficulties on the development of spoken
language
- Identification of possible pointers to effective interventions
This project is in progress.