Abstract: Phonological processes are known to characterize unintelligible speech. The present study is aimed at identifying the type of phonological processes characteristic in children with repaired cleft lip and palate (RCLP) and their relation with speech understandability. The study consisted of ten native Kannada speaking children with RCLP between the ages of 3 to 4 years. A ten minute conversation sample was collected from each of the child which was rated by experienced speech pathologists for speech understandability. Based on their rating the children were grouped into mild and severe groups. Further Kannada Photo Diagnostic Articulation Test was administered and the responses were analyzed for the presence of phonological processes using sound by sound analysis. The guidelines in Computerized Assessment of Phonological Processes in Kannada was used to identify the phonological processes. Later the frequency of occurrence of the processes identified was calculated and its relationship with speech understandability rating was analyzed. The study revealed that there are specific phonological processes which characterize the speech of children with Kannada speaking children with RCLP viz., initial consonant deletion, medial consonant deletion, medial syllable deletion, cluster substitution, retroflex fronting, backing, gliding, progressive assimilation, regressive assimilation and idiosyncratic processes. Also, it was noted that the frequency of phonological processes was higher in the children with severe speech understandability rating compared to mild group. The reasons for such findings are discussed.
Keywords: Phonological processes, Kannada language, Speech Understandability.
Title: Speech Understandability and Phonological Processes in Kannada Speaking Preschool Children with Repaired Cleft Lip and Palate
Author: Deepthi K.J., Pushpavathi M.
International Journal of Social Science and Humanities Research
ISSN 2348-3156 (Print), ISSN 2348-3164 (online)
Research Publish Journals
