Speech disruptions in pre-school children with specific language impairment and phonological impairment

This study investigated the presence and types of fluency disruptions in the spontaneous speech of two groups of MLU-matched children with specific language impairment (SLI): those whose profiles involved impaired phonology in addition to the language impairment (SLI-Pgroup), and those whose impairments were restricted to language only (SLI group). The speech samples were analysed for disruptions using a modification of the Dollaghan and Campbell (1992) system. Comparisons between the groups revealed a significantly greater frequency of stuttering-like disruptions in the SLI-P group than in the SLI group. All other comparisons, including the total frequency of disruptions, were nonsignificant. Results are discussed with respect to existing literature and the need for further research.