Final answer:
The statement is true; an inadequate phonological system can lead to intelligibility issues in a child, especially for those with dyslexia. Phonological challenges can affect their ability to differentiate sounds and learn sound-letter correspondence, impacting speech, reading, and writing.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that a child's intelligibility could be related to an inadequate phonological system is true. An inadequate phonological system can make it difficult for a child to produce sounds correctly, which affects their speech intelligibility. This can be particularly challenging for someone with dyslexia, who may have difficulty processing and mapping the sounds of language to written symbols, known as sound-letter correspondence. Dyslexia can cause individuals to mix up letters, skip words, and struggle with spelling, which impacts their reading and writing abilities. As children develop, their ability to discriminate between phonemes is crucial. If a child is unable to differentiate and reproduce the sounds correctly, it can lead to communication difficulties.
Therefore, when evaluating intelligibility issues, it is important to consider the child's phonological system. Children, like the son in the given story, who show an understanding of letters and words at an early age, might demonstrate normal linguistic development or exceptional cognitive abilities. However, for children with disorders such as dyslexia, professionals must ensure adequate support for the development of their phonological skills. Various factors, including early childhood experiences, parental involvement, and individual developmental patterns, contribute to a child's language acquisition and overall cognitive development.