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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
Language: English
Authors: Alexandra J. Garrett (ORCID 0009-0000-0024-7570), Sermin Tukel, Angela T. Morgan (ORCID 0000-0003-1147-7405)
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
FullText Text:
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  Data: Long-Term Speech Outcomes in Moderate-To-Severe Childhood Speech Sound Disorder: A Systematic Review
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Alexandra+J%2E+Garrett%22">Alexandra J. Garrett</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0009-0000-0024-7570">0009-0000-0024-7570</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Sermin+Tukel%22">Sermin Tukel</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Angela+T%2E+Morgan%22">Angela T. Morgan</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1147-7405">0000-0003-1147-7405</externalLink>)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22International+Journal+of+Language+%26+Communication+Disorders%22"><i>International Journal of Language & Communication Disorders</i></searchLink>. 2026 61(3).
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  Data: 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
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  Data: 21
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  Data: Journal Articles<br />Information Analyses<br />Reports - Research
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Speech+Impairments%22">Speech Impairments</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Articulation+Impairments%22">Articulation Impairments</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Severity+%28of+Disability%29%22">Severity (of Disability)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Literature+Reviews%22">Literature Reviews</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Children%22">Children</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Speech+Language+Pathology%22">Speech Language Pathology</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Speech+Therapy%22">Speech Therapy</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Neurological+Impairments%22">Neurological Impairments</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Longitudinal+Studies%22">Longitudinal Studies</searchLink>
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  Data: 10.1111/1460-6984.70231
– Name: ISSN
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  Data: 1368-2822<br />1460-6984
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: 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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  Data: 2026
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  Data: EJ1506726
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        Value: 10.1111/1460-6984.70231
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      – Text: English
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      – SubjectFull: Speech Impairments
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Articulation Impairments
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      – SubjectFull: Severity (of Disability)
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      – SubjectFull: Literature Reviews
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      – SubjectFull: Children
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      – SubjectFull: Speech Language Pathology
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      – SubjectFull: Speech Therapy
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      – SubjectFull: Neurological Impairments
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      – SubjectFull: Longitudinal Studies
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      – TitleFull: Long-Term Speech Outcomes in Moderate-To-Severe Childhood Speech Sound Disorder: A Systematic Review
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