When is a /k/ not a [k]? EPG as a diagnostic and therapeutic tool for abnormal velar stops.
This case study describes a boy who at the age of eight years did not have consistent or contrastive use of velar stops in his spontaneous speech. The use of electropalatography (EPG) revealed abnormal tongue-palate contact for both velar and alveolar stops, all of which were perceived as normal, there was excess contact in the palatal region for all alveolars and velars in a word initial position and double velar/palatal articulation for velars in a word final position. Therapy using EPG for visual feedback was highly successful and post therapy data showed normal-looking EPG patterns for alveolar and velar stops. The assessment, diagnostic and therapeutic implications are discussed.
Friel
S
S
Nuffield Hearing and Speech Centre, Royal National Throat Nose and Ear Hospital, London.
D002648:Child; D004568:Electrodiagnosis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010159:Palate; D013064:Speech Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D013068:Speech Production Measurement; D013070:Speech Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D014059:Tongue / Q000503:physiopathology*