Treatment of Hissing Sibilant Sounds in Arabic Descriptive Analytical Study

Abstract

This study focused on treating misarticulation of hissing sibilant sounds /s/, /z/, and /ṣ/ in Arabic language, which does not have any pathological, or hearing cause. In this descriptive analytical study, treatment is based on over 18 years of clinical experience of working with various articulation disorders and ages.  Treatment targeted substitutions and distortions of speech sounds.  Treatment guidance benefited from the experience of 46 speech language pathologists who worked with articulation disorders and their clinical experience ranged from 3 years to 18 years.  SLPS were given questionnaire regarding how they deal with misarticulation of hissing sibilant sounds in order to provide a good model for articulation treatment.  Case studies were also presented in order to provide application of the suggested treatment ways, followed by suggestions regarding how to treat substitutions and distortion of the hissing sibilants.