When conducting the initial diagnostic assessment some procedures are obligatory and some are optional. Which of the following lists is composed of procedures that are optional when assessing a case with suspected SSD?

When conducting the initial diagnostic assessment some procedures are obligatory and some are optional. Which of the following lists is composed of procedures that are optional when assessing a case with suspected SSD?

• A. Phonology assessment, inconsistency assessment, phonological awareness
• B. Standardized articulation test or screen, oral-motor screen, hearing screen
• C. Phonology assessment, language screen, phonological awareness
• D. Standardized articulation test or screen, intelligibility, nonword repetition

Answer: (C)

In this context, some procedures are essential at the start to rule out medical or motor factors and to quantify articulation, while others are additional checks that inform planning but aren’t required to determine whether a case involves a speech sound disorder. The obligatory parts typically include a standardized articulation test or screen, an oral-motor screen, and a hearing screen. The items in the option you’re focusing on—phonology assessment, language screen, and phonological awareness—offer deeper insight into the child’s phonological system, language status, and literacy-related skills, but they’re not mandatory for the initial identification of an SSD. They’re used when there are specific concerns or to guide intervention decisions, rather than to establish the presence of a speech sound disorder.

In this context, some procedures are essential at the start to rule out medical or motor factors and to quantify articulation, while others are additional checks that inform planning but aren’t required to determine whether a case involves a speech sound disorder. The obligatory parts typically include a standardized articulation test or screen, an oral-motor screen, and a hearing screen. The items in the option you’re focusing on—phonology assessment, language screen, and phonological awareness—offer deeper insight into the child’s phonological system, language status, and literacy-related skills, but they’re not mandatory for the initial identification of an SSD. They’re used when there are specific concerns or to guide intervention decisions, rather than to establish the presence of a speech sound disorder.