With the consonantal inventory described, the information most strongly indicates that the child has:

With the consonantal inventory described, the information most strongly indicates that the child has:

• A. Childhood apraxia of speech
• B. An oral motor impairment
• C. Delayed phonological development
• D. A significant high-frequency hearing loss

Answer: (C)

The choice indicating that the child has delayed phonological development is supported by the consonantal inventory described. This suggests that the child may not be producing all expected sounds for their age, which is characteristic of delayed phonological development. Children with this condition typically exhibit a restricted or simplified phonemic inventory, but they usually still have some level of consistency in their sound production, which helps discern it from other conditions. In the context of the other options, while childhood apraxia of speech involves challenges with the planning and production of speech sounds, it is often associated with inconsistent sound errors and difficulty with the sequencing of sounds, which may not align with a straightforward delayed phonological development. An oral motor impairment typically reflects issues with physical capabilities for speech production, rather than solely phonological skills. Lastly, significant high-frequency hearing loss would likely affect more than just the consonantal inventory; it would impact overall speech perception and production, leading to broader communication difficulties. Thus, the consonantal inventory pointing toward delayed phonological development is the most fitting conclusion.

The choice indicating that the child has delayed phonological development is supported by the consonantal inventory described. This suggests that the child may not be producing all expected sounds for their age, which is characteristic of delayed phonological development. Children with this condition typically exhibit a restricted or simplified phonemic inventory, but they usually still have some level of consistency in their sound production, which helps discern it from other conditions.

In the context of the other options, while childhood apraxia of speech involves challenges with the planning and production of speech sounds, it is often associated with inconsistent sound errors and difficulty with the sequencing of sounds, which may not align with a straightforward delayed phonological development. An oral motor impairment typically reflects issues with physical capabilities for speech production, rather than solely phonological skills. Lastly, significant high-frequency hearing loss would likely affect more than just the consonantal inventory; it would impact overall speech perception and production, leading to broader communication difficulties. Thus, the consonantal inventory pointing toward delayed phonological development is the most fitting conclusion.