Towards an Agreed Labelling System and Protocol for the Diagnosis of Speech Sound Disorder Subtypes in the United Kingdom.
Joanne Cleland, Sam Burr, Sam Harding and 2 others
PMID 40346983WHAT IT FOUND
UK speech therapists agreed to use Dodd's classification for speech sound disorders, updating terms to include Childhood Apraxia of Speech.
They designed a feasible diagnostic protocol prioritising the DEAP and Intelligibility in Context Scale to guide assessment within the NHS.
Key findings
01Participants agreed to adopt Dodd's classification system, updating terminology to use 'Childhood Apraxia of Speech' instead of 'Developmental Verbal Dyspraxia' and adopting the ASHA definition.
02A diagnostic protocol was agreed that prioritises the DEAP and Intelligibility in Context Scale, with inconsistency assessments reserved for a 'drill-down' stage to ensure feasibility.
03Stakeholder polling showed 55% of UK therapists currently use Dodd's system, and 93% agreed with the proposed subtype definitions.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The consensus was based on only six speech therapists and one parent from five services in England and Scotland, which may not represent all UK regions or experience levels. The protocol focuses on SSD of unknown origin and straightforward presentations, so it may not be sufficient for children with complex needs, known medical causes, or neurodiversities. The study reflects current practice rather than testing the new protocol's effectiveness; no children were diagnosed using this specific workflow during the study. The poll results rely on self-reported agreement from conference attendees, which may not translate to actual clinical implementation in busy NHS settings.
Declared interests
The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not treat this as a validated diagnostic tool that improves patient outcomes. It is a consensus on terminology and workflow designed for feasibility in the NHS, not a trial proving this protocol leads to better or more accurate diagnoses than existing methods.