Prevalence and predictors of persistent speech sound disorder at eight-years-old: Findings from a population cohort study

Purpose: To determine prevalence and predictors of persistent speech sound disorder (SSD) in children aged 8.

Method: Data from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) were used. Children were classified as having persistent SSD based on Percentage of Consonants Correct measures from connected speech samples. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to identify predictors.
Results: The estimated prevalence of persistent SSD was 3.6%. Children with persistent SSD were more likely to be male and from families who were not home-owners. Early childhood predictors identified as important were: weak sucking at 4 weeks; not often combining words at 24 months; limited use of word morphology at 38 months; and being unintelligible to strangers at age 38 months. School-age predictors identified as important were: maternal report of difficulty pronouncing certain sounds and hearing impairment at 7 years; tympanostomy tube insertion at any age up to 8 years; and a history of suspected coordination problems. The contribution of these findings to our understanding of risk factors for persistent SSD and the nature of the condition is considered.

Conclusion: Variables identified as predictive of persistent SSD suggest that factors across motor, cognitive and linguistic processes may place a child at risk.