Analysis of Variables for the Correct Speech Production in Children with Phonological Disorder

This study analyzes speech data of Brazilian Portuguese-speaking children with phonological disorders (PD) in relation to production of consonants of the phonological system, checking which were performed correctly and factors that influence the accuracy of production. This is a descriptive, observational, cross-sectional secondary data of 107 subjects collected from VALDEF database (FAPERGS-process no. 0904179 and CNPq-process no. 483886/2010-6). We carried out the statistical treatment of data in software GoldvarbX to analyze the influence of linguistic and extralinguistic variables (depending on the target consonant, on the target consonant tone, word type, severity of degree, age, and sex) in the speech of children. After several analyzes, we found that nasal consonants had higher correct production (94% of occurrences, with 0.82 relative weight) for children with PD. The tonicity of the target consonant was presented with a slight favoritism for the consonants that are in a position tonic or posttonic (77%, with 0.51 relative weight). Regarding the type of word was the noun which had a slight favoring to correct production (relative weight 0.50-76%). Already the medium severity degree was the most significant (relative weight 0.74-91%). Children with 10 years old showed the highest relative weight (0.66) with application of 94%. With regard to gender, there is a slight predominance of correct productions by boys, with relative weight of 0.51-78%. Findings with large amounts of data are important for understanding linguistic phenomena and help clinic phonology on subsidies for development of a therapeutic plan for children with PD.

Keywords: Phonological disorder, GoldvarbX phonological system.