When is a /k/ Not a [k]? EPG as a Diagnostic and Therapeutic Tool for Abnormal Velar Stops

This case study describes a boy who at the age of eight years did not have consistent or contrastive use of velar stops in his spontaneous speech. The use of electropalatography (EPG) revealed abnormal tongue-palate contact for both velar and alveolar stops, all of which were perceived as normal, there was excess contact in the palatal region for all alveolars and velars in a word initial position and double velar/palatal articulation for velars in a word final position. Therapy using EPG for visual feedback was highly successful and post therapy data showed normal-looking EPG patterns for alveolar and velar stops. The assessment, diagnostic and therapeutic implications are discussed.