What are typical prosodic errors observed in AOS?

• A. Uneven rhythm, inappropriate stress, slow or irregular pacing, and hesitant phrasing.
• B. Normal rhythm with consistent stress.
• C. Monotone with rapid, evenly paced speech.
• D. No prosodic disturbance.

Answer: (A)

In AOS, prosody is affected because the planning and sequencing of speech movements are disrupted, leading to timing problems across syllables and words. You’ll typically see an uneven rhythm where some parts are stretched while others are rushed, and stress that doesn’t line up with the intended words or emphasis. Pacing tends to be slow or irregular, with hesitations or abnormal pauses as the speaker tries to assemble the motor plan. These features reflect the struggle to program the timing and emphasis of speech, not just articulation of individual sounds.

So this set of features best captures what prosody looks like in AOS. Normal rhythm with consistent stress would imply intact prosody, while monotone with rapid, evenly paced speech or no prosodic disturbance don’t fit the typical AOS pattern.