Brazilian Phonological Test: Figs Applicability

Introduction: Phonology is one of the areas of linguistics that studies the sound system of a language, which includes defining the intentional and distinctive phonic differences that change the meaning of words. Based on the Spoken Information Processing Model (2005, Chavrier & Narbona), Phonology was included among the areas that participate in this function, and its evaluation is important for the diagnosis of Speech Disorders. Thus, the speech therapy clinic has been growing in scientific research to offer valid protocols that guarantee the reliable determination of communication disorders.

Objective: To develop a Phonological Screening with Figures – FIGS*, for children with Speech Disorders and apply it to children with typical and altered development, to verify its usability in the speech therapy clinic.

Method: The FIGS elaboration stage included a review, in the national and international bibliography, of the existing protocols for the assessment of Phonology, through a search in the PubMed, Lilacs and Scielo databases. The 2nd step of this study included the application of FIGS in 5 typical subjects and 5 subjects with phonological disorders. Results: The articles showed that there are few instruments validated for Brazilian Portuguese and that there are specific words that can compose a new instrument. Based on these authors, we propose a phonological tracking with figures, divided into two tasks, naming and repetition. Both typical subjects and those with alterations were able to identify the figures developed especially for this instrument, making it applicable in clinical speech therapy.

Conclusion: the phonological test with figures, FIGS, can be applied to children aged 3 years and over and its images correspond to the lexicon learned by the subjects in this age group, making it a useful tool for the diagnosis of phonological disorders in clinical speech therapy.

Author(s): Taísa Giannecchini

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