Preregistration Document for: How do Singaporean young adults view disordered speech of children?

Research has shown that speech and language disorders affect many around the world, with Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) affecting approximately 7% (Norbury et. al., 2016) and stuttering having an incidence rate of approximately 8% (Yairi & Ambrose, 2013). However, public awareness of these disorders and what they entail is often limited – Kim et. al.’s 2023 study of Australian public awareness towards DLD and the overlapping Specific Language Impairment label demonstrates limited awareness levels compared to other developmental disorders. Societal perception of individuals based on their speech, which can be affected by the speech and language disorders they experience, is significantly worse compared to unaffected peers (Allard and Williams, 2008), with practical effects on their access to opportunities. However, a better understanding of local perception towards different presentations of speech, especially as early as in childhood, is crucial to designing better responses that address the concerns involved. Therefore, the present study focuses on the following question: “How do Singaporean young adults view the speech of children who have speech and language disorders, versus those without?” Project initiated as part of a Final Year Project in Psychology at NTU.