Representation of the ICF in research of speech intelligibility: A systematic review of literature describing deaf and hard-of-hearing children

Purpose: The purpose of this review was to map speech intelligibility measures used for assessing d/Deaf and hard-of-hearing children onto the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health.
Method: This review considered perceptual speech intelligibility measures (Articulation functions b320) used to assess deaf and hard-of-hearing children aged 12 years and younger. The following electronic databases were searched: CINAHL; ERIC (ProQuest); Linguistic, Language, and Behaviour Abstracts; Scopus; Medline via PubMed; CENTRAL via Ovid; Cochrane via Ovid; and Joanna Briggs via Ovid. Data were extracted describing the article, participant, listener, study, speech intelligibility, and psychometric characteristics from the 245 included studies.
Result: Speech intelligibility was measured as articulation functions (b320) through speaking (d330) in all studies. Other Body Functions frequently measured were speech discrimination (b2304; 28%) and mental functions of language (b167; 27%). Activities and Participation factors other than speaking d330 were generally not considered. Speech intelligibility was most often measured in the context of health services (e5800; 66%).
Conclusion: Previous research on the speech intelligibility of deaf and hard-of-hearing children has largely lacked a broader perspective of functioning. Clinicians and educators of deaf and hard-of-hearing children should consider Activities and Participation, Environmental, and Personal Factors when assessing speech intelligibility.