Preschool speech intelligibility and 8-year literacy: A moderated mediation analysis

Abstract

Purpose: The aims of this study were (a) to examine the relationship between speech intelligibility at the age of 5 years and literacy skills at the age of 8 years, (b) to explore the possible mediating or moderating role of broader language skills at 5 years in the relationship of interest, and (c) to assess whether the potential risk factors (child gender; maternal education levels; and family history of speech, language, reading, and writing difficulties) influence the relationship between speech intelligibility and literacy in terms of moderated mediation effects. Method: We used mother-reported questionnaire data on 16,184 children participating in the population-based, prospective Norw..