Comprehensive Assessment of Speech Intelligibility in Speech and Hearing Disorders

The current study examines speech intelligibility in children with speech and hearing disorders, focusing on conditions like Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Intellectual Disabilities (ID), ADHD, Hearing Impairment (HI), articulation disorders, and genetic syndromes like Coffin-Siris syndrome. A total of 22 children in the age range of 4 to 9 were participated in the study. All the children have attended a minimum of speech therapy since one year. Speech intelligibility was assessed by using 50 Telugu words, with responses marked as correct, incorrect, or no response. Results showed significant variability across disorders. Children with ASD and ID, particularly those with moderate to severe conditions, showed lower intelligibility. In contrast, children with ADHD had better intelligibility, while those with HI exhibited the lowest scores due to sensory challenges. Older children showed improved intelligibility, highlighting the influence of age and therapy. Females generally outperformed males, and children with mild delays (e.g., mild ID or ADHD) had better intelligibility than those with more severe delays (e.g., ASD or HI). The authors stated that the significance of early and individualized intervention in enhancing communication outcomes.