Which factor should result in prioritization of a child for treatment upon diagnosis of SSD?

• A. Older age of child, that is older than age 9 years
• B. Family history of speech, language or reading impairments
• C. Male sex
• D. Younger age of child, that is 2 or 3 years of age

Answer: (B)

The key idea is that a family history of speech, language, or reading impairments signals a higher risk that a child’s speech sound disorder will persist and later impact literacy. When there is such a familial history, the likelihood of ongoing difficulties into school years and potential reading problems is greater, so early, proactive, and possibly more intensive intervention can help reduce these long‑term effects. This makes the familial history factor the most important cue for prioritizing treatment soon after diagnosis. Other factors like very young age or male sex don’t carry as strong a prediction for persistence as family history, so they don’t drive prioritization as strongly.