High-intensity vs Low-intensity Speech Intervention in Children With Phonological Speech Sound Disorders

Intelligibility in Context Scale (ICS)

To assess possible transfer of learned speech skills to contexts outside the therapy setting, the Intelligibility in Context Scale (ICS) will be administered. The ICS rates the degree to which children's speech is understood by different partners (caregivers, immediate and extended family, friends, acquaintances, teachers, and strangers) on a 5-point scale (1 - never intelligible to 5 - always intelligible) with a minimum score of 7 and a maximum score of 35. The higher the score, the better the result.

Time frame: Assessment 2 weeks pre-intervention, immediately pre-intervention, after 5 hours of therapy, after a 6-week rest period, immediately post-intervention, at 2 weeks post-intervention, at 12 weeks post-intervention

Communication attitudes of children aged 4 and 5 years (KiddyCAT)

To evaluate the change in communication attitudes of children aged 4 and 5 years during the intervention, the KiddyCAT will be administered before, during and after the intervention. This questionnaire evaluates the extent to which the child has a negative attitude toward speaking. The higher the score, the more negative the attitude toward speaking. the scores range from 0 (no negative communication attitudes) to 14 (negative communication attitudes only).

Time frame: Assessment immediately pre-intervention, after 5 hours of therapy, after a 6-week rest period, immediately post-intervention, at 12 weeks post-intervention

Communication attitudes Test (CAT)

To evaluate the change in communication attitudes of children aged 6 years and older during the intervention, the Communication Attitudes Test (CAT) will be administered before, during and after the intervention. This questionnaire evaluate the extent to which the child has a negative attitude toward speaking. The higher the score, the more negative the attitude toward speaking. the scores range from 0 (no negative communication attitudes) to 33 (negative communication attitudes only).

Time frame: Assessment immediately pre-intervention, after 5 hours of therapy, after a 6-week rest period, immediately post-intervention, at 12 weeks post-intervention

Phonological Awareness subtest from the CELF-Preschool-II-NL

The instrument targets two hierarchical levels of phonological awareness and consists of 6 subtests of 4 test items. Minimum raw score is 0 and maximum possible score is 24, with higher scores reflecting better phonological awareness skills.

Time frame: Assessment immediately pre-intervention, after 5 hours of therapy, after a 6-week rest period, immediately post-intervention, at 12 weeks post-intervention

Dutch Phonological Awareness Test (Proef Fonologisch Bewustzijn)

The instrument targets three hierarchical levels of phonological awareness and consists of four subtests of 10 test items. Children are asked to rhyme, to segment words in syllables, to combine phonemes into words and the repeat non-words. Minimum raw score is 0 and maximum possible score is 40, with higher scores reflecting better phonological awareness skills.

Time frame: Assessment immediately pre-intervention, after 5 hours of therapy, after a 6-week rest period, immediately post-intervention, at 12 weeks post-intervention