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

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. 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. 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%). 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.