Developmental Phonological Disorders

Moving Toward the 21st Century—Forwards, Backwards, or Endlessly Sideways?

I have argued that notwithstanding considerable research activity in developmental phonological disorders, the basic questions remain unanswered. I have proposed that a central problem with the research culture in child phonology is that it includes too little cross-laboratory collaboration of the type seen when significant breakthroughs are reported in other biological and social sciences. Finally, I have suggested the need for a shared classification system for developmental phonological disorders—to promote cross-laboratory research, as well as to strengthen the efforts of individual clinical research groups. As stressed by one of my teachers, Ralph Shelton, collaboration is a cornerstone of scholarship. I am optimistic that our discipline will evolve toward a productive 21st century marked by vital, collaborative scholarship.

Key Words: phonological disorders, prevalence, classification, genetics, assessment