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Lookup NU author(s): Professor Helen StringerORCiD
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).
Background Children with speech sound disorder (SSD) are at risk of long-term adverse consequences if appropriate intervention is not provided in a timely way. Although there are interventions of proven efficacy, these are often not implemented with good fidelity in clinical practice. Children with SSD in the UK are commonly manged in care pathways within NHS and independent speech and language therapy services. It is not known which care pathways are most effective because there is currently no systematic recording or analysis of intervention outcomes for children with SSD. Aims The objective of the MISLToe_SSD study is to develop an evidence-based protocol for collecting routine data on a large scale so that UK SSD care pathways can be evaluated for clinical- and cost-effectiveness. The development of the core outcome set (COS) is reported here. Methods and Procedures Following the Core Outcome Measures in Effectiveness Trials methodology, a modified Delphi process was used to reach a consensus on a core outcome set for SSD interventions. The Delphi process comprised two online survey rounds and one online meeting. Anonymity between panel members was maintained during the online survey rounds. Round one required a consensus of ≥50%, rising to ≥75% in round two. Outcomes and Results A group of 66 UK speech and language therapists identified as experts in SSD by their peers were recruited through specialist clinical and research networks. A long list of 30 outcome statements was reduced by consensus to a final list of seven outcomes with associated measurement instruments. Increased speech intelligibility was agreed as the primary outcome by 100% of panel members. Six secondary outcomes were identified. Conclusions and implications The final COS can be used in future research to evaluate care pathways and intervention effectiveness for children with SSD. Furthermore, it provides a basis for measuring outcomes in future intervention trials for SSD.
Author(s): Stringer H, Burr S, Cleland J, Harding S, Wren Y
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: International Journal of Language and Communication Disorders
Year: 2026
Volume: 61
Issue: 1
Print publication date: 09/01/2026
Online publication date: 09/01/2026
Acceptance date: 19/12/2025
Date deposited: 27/01/2026
ISSN (print): 1368-2822
ISSN (electronic): 1460-6984
Publisher: Wiley
URL: https://doi.org/10.1111/1460-6984.70188
DOI: 10.1111/1460-6984.70188
Data Access Statement: Quantitative data not included in the text is available by application to the lead author.
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