Phonological error patterns in developmental verbal dyspraxia.

Abstract

Phonological error patterns are analyzed in a group of 10 children presenting symptoms consistent with Developmental Verbal Dyspraxia. Results indicate a dominance of "sequentially constrained" errors primarily involving sound and syllable omissions and timing errors. Rank-order correlations among the phonological errors and between phonological errors and developmental indices suggest that these children have a specific expressive language problem dominated by phonological errors of sequential reduction. Interpretation of the data points to a central motor planning deficit. Comparisons are made with other studies depicting neuropsychological deficits in similar children.