Long-Term Speech Outcomes in Moderate-To-Severe Childhood Speech Sound Disorder: A Systematic Review
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| Title: | Long-Term Speech Outcomes in Moderate-To-Severe Childhood Speech Sound Disorder: A Systematic Review |
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| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Alexandra J. Garrett (ORCID |
| Source: | International Journal of Language & Communication Disorders. 2026 61(3). |
| Availability: | Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www.wiley.com/en-us |
| Peer Reviewed: | Y |
| Page Count: | 21 |
| Publication Date: | 2026 |
| Document Type: | Journal Articles Information Analyses Reports - Research |
| Descriptors: | Speech Impairments, Articulation Impairments, Severity (of Disability), Literature Reviews, Children, Speech Language Pathology, Speech Therapy, Neurological Impairments, Longitudinal Studies |
| DOI: | 10.1111/1460-6984.70231 |
| ISSN: | 1368-2822 1460-6984 |
| Abstract: | Background: Parents of children with moderate-to-severe speech sound disorder presenting to clinic want to understand prognosis for their child; however, there is unclear evidence as to the specific long-term speech outcomes in this group. Aim: To review long-term speech outcomes in children with moderate-to-severe speech sound disorders. Method: A systematic review identified 3697 papers; 21 papers containing 15 unique studies (six had overlapping data) met inclusion criteria for moderate-to-severe speech sound disorder with at least one follow-up speech assessment unrelated to intervention outcomes. Studies were appraised for quality. Main contribution: Overall, 9 cohort studies, and 6 case studies of children aged 2y3m-to-11y9m at initial assessment were included. Most (11/15) had two-to-three follow-up time points, and 80% (12/15) specified speech diagnosis or subtype. The most prominent moderate-to-severe speech diagnosis that reached criteria for inclusion was Childhood Apraxia of Speech. Speech outcomes reported in case studies included word (7/15), syllable (7/15), consonant (11/15), and vowel (5/15) accuracy, phonological patterns (9/15, prosody (2/15), consistency (1/15), and intelligibility (2/15). Case studies revealed reduced error frequency and improved single-word accuracy and intelligibility, but persistent error types over time (e.g. token-to-token inconsistency). Cohort studies mostly reported on overall gross improvement, such as 'resolved' or 'persistent' disorder; however, the severity of the 'persistent' subgroup was not delineated. Study quality was generally good, with limitations mostly related to confounding factors such as influence of therapy, or poor or absent specification of the specific speech subtype at time zero. Conclusions: While case studies indicated reduced error frequency over time, larger-scale data are needed to confirm findings. In the current context of health service demands for speech therapy, longitudinal speech outcome data, measuring meaningful speech outcomes are critically needed to identify predictors of longer-term outcomes and inform prioritisation for treatment. |
| Abstractor: | As Provided |
| Entry Date: | 2026 |
| Accession Number: | EJ1506726 |
| Database: | ERIC |
| Abstract: | Background: Parents of children with moderate-to-severe speech sound disorder presenting to clinic want to understand prognosis for their child; however, there is unclear evidence as to the specific long-term speech outcomes in this group. Aim: To review long-term speech outcomes in children with moderate-to-severe speech sound disorders. Method: A systematic review identified 3697 papers; 21 papers containing 15 unique studies (six had overlapping data) met inclusion criteria for moderate-to-severe speech sound disorder with at least one follow-up speech assessment unrelated to intervention outcomes. Studies were appraised for quality. Main contribution: Overall, 9 cohort studies, and 6 case studies of children aged 2y3m-to-11y9m at initial assessment were included. Most (11/15) had two-to-three follow-up time points, and 80% (12/15) specified speech diagnosis or subtype. The most prominent moderate-to-severe speech diagnosis that reached criteria for inclusion was Childhood Apraxia of Speech. Speech outcomes reported in case studies included word (7/15), syllable (7/15), consonant (11/15), and vowel (5/15) accuracy, phonological patterns (9/15, prosody (2/15), consistency (1/15), and intelligibility (2/15). Case studies revealed reduced error frequency and improved single-word accuracy and intelligibility, but persistent error types over time (e.g. token-to-token inconsistency). Cohort studies mostly reported on overall gross improvement, such as 'resolved' or 'persistent' disorder; however, the severity of the 'persistent' subgroup was not delineated. Study quality was generally good, with limitations mostly related to confounding factors such as influence of therapy, or poor or absent specification of the specific speech subtype at time zero. Conclusions: While case studies indicated reduced error frequency over time, larger-scale data are needed to confirm findings. In the current context of health service demands for speech therapy, longitudinal speech outcome data, measuring meaningful speech outcomes are critically needed to identify predictors of longer-term outcomes and inform prioritisation for treatment. |
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| ISSN: | 1368-2822 1460-6984 |
| DOI: | 10.1111/1460-6984.70231 |
