“Functional” Defective Articulation: An Oral Sensory Disturbance

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Abstract
Some sources of disordered articulation may be related to oral sensory disabilities alone. One method of evaluating oral sensory functioning is to test for lingual stereognostic capability. Two groups, aged 12 to 16, of 10 children considered to be normal speakers (Group A) and 10 children considered to have “functional” articulation (Group B) as judged by a speech pathologist were free of sensory and motor defects. 20 geometric plastic forms, developed by the National Institute of Dental Research (NIDRs 20) were used to assess perceptual discrimination: eye, finger tip, tongue tip, and tongue blade. In general, larger mean differences were found between the normal and “functional” articulation groups than within them. The groups differed consistently in the general performance levels on the oral stereognostic tasks and in the oral-tactile performance not only within groups but between groups. Ss with “functional” articulation disorders (Group B) made more and different types of errors than normal speakers. Articulation disorders considered “functional” might be studied in relation to classical therapeutic procedures.

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