Phonologically similar, high-density targets to improve intelligibility: A single-case study in a Cypriot-Greek– speaking child with consistent phonological disorder
Journal
Journal of Monolingual and Bilingual Speech
Date Issued
January 30, 2026
Editor(s)
Abstract
Aim: To test whether training with phonologically similar, high–neighborhood-density
word cohorts promotes expressive phonological gains in a 4-year-old bidialectal
Cypriot-Greek–speaking child with a consistent phonological disorder.
Method: A single-case study design with follow-up included baseline (pre-test),
intervention, post-test, and one-month follow-up. Sixteen 45-minute sessions were
delivered twice weekly over two months by treating clinicians; outcomes were scored
by a second SLP blinded to phase and targets. Stimuli were organized into
phonologically similar, high-density cohorts. Outcomes were obtained with a 49-item
picture-naming probe; maintenance/generalization were assessed with 20 untreated
items at follow-up. Dependent measures were Proportion of Consonants Correct
(PCC), Whole-Word Matches (WWM), Phonetic Inventory Size (PIS), and phonological
processes; the Intelligibility in Context Scale (ICS) was completed by the child’s teacher
at baseline and follow-up.
Results: Pre- to post-test analyses showed gains across all measures (PCC, WWM, PIS,
and reduced processes). At follow-up, gains were maintained and generalized to
untreated items, with improved ICS ratings.
Conclusions: Implementing phonologically similar, high-density cohorts within a
structured single-case intervention yielded clinically meaningful and maintained
improvements in expressive phonology and functional intelligibility in Cypriot Greek.
Findings contribute preliminary cross-linguistic support for neighborhood-density–
informed target selection in SSD.
word cohorts promotes expressive phonological gains in a 4-year-old bidialectal
Cypriot-Greek–speaking child with a consistent phonological disorder.
Method: A single-case study design with follow-up included baseline (pre-test),
intervention, post-test, and one-month follow-up. Sixteen 45-minute sessions were
delivered twice weekly over two months by treating clinicians; outcomes were scored
by a second SLP blinded to phase and targets. Stimuli were organized into
phonologically similar, high-density cohorts. Outcomes were obtained with a 49-item
picture-naming probe; maintenance/generalization were assessed with 20 untreated
items at follow-up. Dependent measures were Proportion of Consonants Correct
(PCC), Whole-Word Matches (WWM), Phonetic Inventory Size (PIS), and phonological
processes; the Intelligibility in Context Scale (ICS) was completed by the child’s teacher
at baseline and follow-up.
Results: Pre- to post-test analyses showed gains across all measures (PCC, WWM, PIS,
and reduced processes). At follow-up, gains were maintained and generalized to
untreated items, with improved ICS ratings.
Conclusions: Implementing phonologically similar, high-density cohorts within a
structured single-case intervention yielded clinically meaningful and maintained
improvements in expressive phonology and functional intelligibility in Cypriot Greek.
Findings contribute preliminary cross-linguistic support for neighborhood-density–
informed target selection in SSD.