Phonological process analysis of the speech of mentally retarded adults.

A phonological process analysis was performed on the speech of 20 mentally retarded adults. Results indicated that these subjects exhibited deletion of final consonant, cluster reduction, weak syllable deletion, and stopping. These processes are similar to those previously reported for mentally retarded children and unintelligible nonretarded children. Differences between subjects classified as moderately and severely retarded appear to be quantitative rather than in type of process exhibited.