A longitudinal study of speech timing in young children later found to have reading disability.
OBJECTIVE
This study examined the development of timing characteristics in early spontaneous speech of children who were later identified as having reading disability (RD).


METHODS
Child-adult play sessions were recorded longitudinally at 2 and 3 years of age in 27 children, most of whom were at high familial risk for RD. For each speaking turn, the number of syllables was determined and an acoustic analysis measured the time allocated to articulation, pausing before speaking, and pausing during speaking.


RESULTS
In grade school, a reading battery identified 9 children with RD and 18 children without RD (9 at high risk, 9 at low risk). Early speaking rate was significantly slower in the group with RD, with significantly different patterns of pausing compared with children without RD. Group differences became more distinct by age 3, as longer speaking turns were attempted.


CONCLUSIONS
The results are discussed in terms of speech and language formulation. Phonetic plans may be shorter and/or less specified in children with RD, surfacing as slow, short speaking turns with increased pausing relative to articulation. This explanation is consistent with several accounts of RD and provides a perspective on how speech and language deficits may manifest during spontaneous verbal interactions between young children and adults.
Smith
Allan B
AB
Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, 5724 Dunn Hall, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469-5724, USA. allan.b.smith@umit.maine.edu
Lambrecht Smith
Susan
S
Locke
John L
JL
Bennett
Jane
J
D002675:Child, Preschool; D004410:Dyslexia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007807:Language Tests; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D011932:Reading; D012307:Risk Factors; D013060:Speech / Q000502:physiology*; D013061:Speech Acoustics; D013065:Speech Intelligibility; D014705:Verbal Behavior / Q000502:physiology*