Disorders of Speech Intelligibility

Variables affecting intelligibility include intensity, frequency, vocal quality rate, articulation, language, prosody, and foreign accent. Unintelligible speakers, both children and adults, may exhibit problems with some or all of these variables. Assessment and remediation of intelligibility in children has revolved around assessment of articulation deficits, while with adults, it has included consideration of intelligibility and rate as well as detailed analysis of multiple dimensions of speech and voice. This paper advocates the "holistic" approach to the assessment and intervention of disorders of intelligibility that does not neglect any aspect of speech or language.