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. 2018 Dec 4;28(1):53–82. doi: 10.1044/2018_AJSLP-18-0037

Table 2.

Speech classifications, motor speech classifications, and dysarthria subtype classifications in the Speech Disorders Classification System (SDCS).

SDCS
 Age (years;months) at assessment Description Reference a
Classes, types, and subtypes Abbreviation
Five speech classification types
 Normal(ized) speech acquisition NSA 3–80 Does not meet criteria for any of the four speech disorder classifications; includes children 3–8 years old with only distortion errors 2, 3, 4
 Speech errors SE 6–8;11 Age-inappropriate speech sound distortions 3, 4
 Persistent speech errors PSE 9–80 Age-inappropriate speech sound distortions that persist past 9 years of age 4, 5
 Speech delay SD 3–8;11 Age-inappropriate speech sound deletions and/or substitutions 3, 4
 Persistent speech delay PSD 9–80 Age-inappropriate speech sound deletions and/or substitutions that persist past 9 years of age 3, 4, 5
Five motor speech classification types
 No motor speech disorder No MSD 3–80 Does not meet criteria for any of the four motor speech disorder classifications 2, 6, 8
 Speech motor delay SMD 3–80 Meets Precision–Stability Index criterion for SMD 2, 6, 8
 Childhood dysarthria CD 3–80 Meets Dysarthria Index and Dysarthria Subtype Indices criteria for CD 2, 6, 8
 Childhood apraxia of speech CAS 3–80 Meets Pause Marker criteria for CAS 6, 7, 8, 9
 Childhood dysarthria and childhood apraxia of speech CD & CAS 3–80 Meets SDCS criteria for CD & CAS 2, 6, 8
Five dysarthria subtypes
 Ataxic 3–80 Cerebellar disorder 1, 2
 Spastic 3–80 Upper motor neuron disorder 1, 2
 Hyperkinetic 3–80 Basal ganglia disorder; increased movement 1, 2
 Hypokinetic 3–80 Basal ganglia disorder; decreased movement 1, 2
 Flaccid 3–80 Lower motor neuron disorder 1, 2

Note. The five speech classifications are mutually exclusive, as are the five motor speech classifications. The five subtypes of dysarthria classifications are not mutually exclusive. That is, a speaker can meet percentile criteria for more than one of the five listed dysarthria subtype classifications (i.e., mixed dysarthria). See Appendix B for the measures used to classify each motor speech disorder.