Academic outcomes in children with histories of speech sound disorders

Tests of phonology, semantics, and syntax were administered to 52 preschool children (19 girls and 33 boys, age 4-6 years) with moderate to severe spe ech sound disorders. The children's performance on these tests was used to predict language, reading, and spelling abilities at school age (age 8-11 y ears). Language impairment at school age was related to poor performance on preschool tests of syntax and nonsense word repetition, while reading impa irment was predicted by poor performance in all preschool rest domains (pho nology, semantics, and syntax). In contrast, spelling impairment was predic ted by deficits in preschool tests of phonological processing as measured b y the Word Discrimination subtest of the Test of Language Development - Pri mary 2. Family history for speech and language disorders did not predict la nguage, reading, or spelling impairment at school age. However, family hist ory for reading disorders was a good predictor of school-age spelling diffi culties. (C) 2000 by Elsevier Science Inc.