Publications
On this page, you will find a comprehensive collection of our published work, spanning innovative studies on a wide range of topics.
Refereed Journal Articles
* student mentee
2026
Wu, Z.*, & To, C. K. S. (accepted). Challenges in accommodating talker variability in lexical tone perception among autistic adults: Implications for communication. Journal of Autism & Developmental Disorders.
Huang, X. Y.* & To, C. K. S. (in press). Parafoveal processing in non-phonetic Chinese
reading: Evidence from children with and without developmental dyslexia. Reading and Writing.
Huang, X. Y.*, Yip, C. Y.*, & To, C. K. S. (2026). Eye movements and visual-attentional function in neurodiverse Chinese children: Effects of character complexity. Vision Research, 244, 108818.
Hwang, H., Louie, K., & To, C. K. S. (2026). Non-social language exposure facilitates autistic children’s language learning. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders.
So, K. K. H.*, Chan, S.,* & To, C. K. S. (2026). Phonological transfer-based intervention for syllable structure in bilingual Cantonese-English children with speech sound disorders. Journal of Monolingual and Bilingual Speech.
Wu, Z.*, Li, Y. Y. E.*, & To, C. K. S. (2026). How talker variability affects Cantonese lexical tone perception: Testing models of talker adaptation in a tone language. Journal of Speech, Language and Hearing Research, 69(3), 932-943.
Ambreen, S.*, & To, C. K. S. (2026). Speech sound acquisition in Urdu-speaking children. Folia Phoniatrica et Logopaedica.
Wang, L., Shi, Y., So, H.-C., Hirai, H. W., Qi, X.*, To, C. K. S., Ng, F. F.-Y., & Wong, P. C. M.
(2026). Who benefits most? A randomized controlled trial for parent-implemented social communication intervention for Chinese-speaking autistic preschoolers. Molecular Autism.
2025
Leung, C., Lau, K. W. U., Chan, B. M. Y, To, C. K. S., Chien, C-W., Lam, C. C., Lee, F. M. Y., Liu, S. K. Y. (2025). Validation of the cognition scale of the Hong Kong Comprehensive Assessment Scales for Toddlers. Healthcare.
Wong, P. C. M., Hirai, H. W., Wang, L., Qi, X., Poon, E. C. H., Chan, M. S. M., Yeung, G. T. Y., Lai, E. C. L., & To, C. K. S. (2025). Parent coaching to target language outcomes for Chinese-learning autistic preschoolers: A preliminary study. Journal of Communication Disorders.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S002199242400073X?dgcid=coauthor
Qi, X.*. & To, C. K. S. (2025). Examining parental stress factors in Hong Kong Chinese parents of autistic and neurodevelopmentally atypical children. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders. https://authors.elsevier.com/a/1k5gR6E7eDWJXN
Maggu, A. R., Shi, X., Kager, R. W. J., To, C. K. S., & Wong, P. C. M. (2025). Delayed versus atypical speech sound development: a markedness-based analysis of speech sound disorder in Cantonese. Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research.
2024
Wu, Z.*, Lam, C.* & To, C. K. S. (2024). Spontaneous generation of unconventional language and its link with grammatical performance in Chinese adults with and without ASD. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-024-06415-1
Ambreen, S.* & To, C. K. S. (2024). Review of the phonological system of contemporary Urdu spoken in Pakistan. International Journal of Speech-Language Pathology. https://doi.org/10.1080/17549507.2024.2324905
Qi, X.*, Zhao, C., To, C. K. S. (2024). Empowering Hong Kong Chinese families with Autism: A preliminary study of the online Hanen More Than Words Program. Autism & Developmental Language Impairment. https://doi.org/10.1177/23969415241245096
Yu, A. C. L., McAllister, R., Mularoni, N. & To, C. K. S. (2024). Atypical temporal sensitivity in coarticulation in autism: Evidence from sibilant-vowel interaction in Cantonese. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders.
2023
*Qi, X., *Ng, W. W. H., *Tsang, G. H. K., & To, C. K. S. (2023). Efficacy of a self-directed video-based caregiver-implemented language programme. Folia Phoniatrica et Logopaedica https://doi.org/10.1159/000534022
*Gao, R., *Yuen, J. T., *Li, X. X., & To, C. K. S. (2023). Oral diadochokinetic performance on perceptual and acoustic measures for typically developing Cantonese-speaking preschool children. Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, 66(5), 1445-1466. https://doi.org/10.1044/2023_JSLHR-22-00426
2022
*Ambreen, S., & To, C. K. S. (2022). Development of the Urdu speech assessment test. Journal of Clinical Practice in Speech-Language Pathology, 24(3), 138-145. https://doi.org/10.1080/22087168.2022.12370374
To, C. K. S., McLeod, S., Law, T., & Sam, K. L. (2022). Predicting which children will normalize without intervention for speech sound disorders. Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, 65(5), 1724-1741.
*So, K. K. H. & To, C. K. S. (2022). Systematic review and meta-analysis of screening tools for language disorders. Frontiers in Pediatrics, 10, 801120. https://doi.org/10.3389/fped.2022.801220
2021
*Lok, J. S. Y., *Qi, X., & To, C. K. S. (2021). Using the More Than Words Program with Chinese families: A case-control study. Frontiers in Communication. https://doi.org/10.3389/fcomm.2021.792758
*Ambreen, S., & To, C. K. S. (2021). Phonological development in Urdu-speaking children: A systematic review. Journal of Speech, Language and Hearing Research.
Maggu, A. R., Kager, R., To, C. K. S., Kwan, J., & Wong, P. C. M. (2021). Complexity promotes speech sound development: Evidence from meta-analysis review. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 1331.
Leung, C., Pin, T., Siu, A., Au, A., To, C. K. S. et al. (2021) Development and pilot evaluation of the cognition domain of the Hong Kong Comprehensive Assessment Scales for Toddlers. Developmental Neurorehabilitation, 24(4), 244-255.
Lau, J., To, C. K. S., Kwan, J., Kang, X., Losh, M., Wong, P. C. M. (2021), Lifelong tone language experience does not eliminate deficits in neural encoding of pitch in Autism Spectrum Disorders. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 51(9), 3291-3310.
2020
Franich, K., *Wong, H. Y., Yu, A. C. L., & To, C. K. S. (2020). Temporal coordination and prosodic structure in autism spectrum disorders: Timing across speech and non-speech motor domains. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 51(8), 2929-2949.
Yu, A. C. L., & To, C. K. S. (2020). Atypical context-dependent speech processing in autism. Applied Psycholinguistics, 41(5), 1045-1059.
2019
*Kok, E. & To, C. K. S. (2019). Revisiting the cut-off criteria of Intelligibility in Context Scale - Traditional Chinese. Language, Speech and Hearing Services in School, 50(4), 629-638.
2018
*Lam, K. Y. K., & To, C. K. S. (2018). Speech sound disorders or differences: Insights from bilingual children speaking two Chinese languages. Journal of Communication Disorders, 70, 35-48. doi: 10.1016/j.jcomdis.2017.09.002
*Law, T., Packman, A., Onslow, M., To, C. K. S., Tong, M. C. F., & Lee, K. Y. S. (2018). Rhythmic speech and stuttering reduction in a syllable-timed language. Clinical Linguistics & Phonetics, 32(10), 932-949.
*Law, T. Packman, A., To, C. K. S., Lee, K. Y.-S., Tong, M. C.-F., & Onslow, M. (2018). The topography of stuttering in Cantonese. Folia Phoniatrica et aLodopaedica, 69, 110-117. doi: 10.1159/000481254
*Law, T., Packman, A., Lee, K. Y.-S., To, C. K. S., Tong, M. C.-F., & Onslow, M. (2018). Lexical tone and stuttering in Cantonese. Clinical Linguistics & Phonetics, 32, 285-297. doi: 10.1080/02699206.2017.1359851
*Li, X. X., & To, C. K. S. (2018). A review of phonological development of Mandarin-speaking children. American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 26, 1262-1278. doi: 10.1044/2017_AJSLP-16-0061
2017
*Cheng, S., Lam, G. Y. H., & To, C. K. S. (2017). Pitch perception in tone language-speaking adults with and without autism spectrum disorders. i-perception. doi: 10.1177/2041669517711200
*Li, X. X., To, C. K. S., & Ng, M. L. (2017). Effects of L1 one on perception of L2 tone - A study of Mandarin tone learning by native Cantonese children. Bilingualism: Language and Cognition, 20, 549-560. doi: 10.1017/S1366728916000195
2016
*Chan, K. K. L. & To, C. K. S. (2016). Do individuals with high-functioning autism who speak a tone language show intonation deficits? Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 46, 1784-1792. doi: 10.1007/s10803-016-2709-5
2015
To, C. K. S., Lui, H. M., *Li, X. X., & Lam, G. Y. H. (2015). A randomized controlled trial of two syntactic treatment procedures with Cantonese-speaking school-age children with language disorders. Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, 58, 1258-1272. doi: 10.1044/2015_JSLHR-L-14-0140
*Law, C., To, C. K. S., Wong, W. Y. M., Lee, C. H. L., & Hui, L. W. O. (2015). Assessing vocabulary skills in Cantonese-speaking adolescents. Speech, Language and Hearing, 18, 219-228. doi: 10.1179/205072815Y.0000000005
To, C. K. S., McLeod, S., & Cheung, P. S. P. (2015). Phonetic variations and sound changes in Hong Kong Cantonese: Diachronic review, synchronic study, and implications for speech sound assessment. Clinical Linguistics & Phonetics, 29(5), 333-353. doi: 10.3109/02699206.2014.1003329
Antoniou, M., To, C. K. S., & Wong, P. C. M. (2015). The auditory cues that drive language development are language specific. Applied Psycholinguistics, 36(6), 1493-1507. doi:10.1017/SO142716414000514
2014
To, C. K. S., *Yim, S. Lam, G., & Iao, L. L. S. (2014). Persuasion in Chinese school age children with and without ASD. Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities, 31, 231-240. doi: 10.1177/1088357614547888
*Ng, K. Y. M., To, C. K. S., & McLeod, S. (2014). Validation of the Intelligibility in Context Scale as a screening tool for preschoolers in Hong Kong. Clinical Linguistics & Phonetics, 28, 316-328. doi: 10.3109/02699206.2013.865789
2013
*Wong, G. K. Y., To, C. K. S., Lee, A. M., Lam, G. Y. H., & Chan, A. Y. (2013). Effect of prenatal maternal depression on early speech sound acquisition. Speech, Language, and Hearing, 16, 215-220. doi: 10.1179/2050572813Y.0000000015
*Tang, I. N. Y., To, C. K. S., & Weekes, B. S. (2013). Riddle appreciation and reading comprehension in Chinese children. Language, Speech, and Hearing Services in Schools, 44(4), 348-359. doi: 10.1044/0161-1461(2013/12-0091)
To, C. K. S., Cheung, P., & McLeod, S. (2013). The impact of demographic factors on speech sound acquisition in Hong Kong Cantonese. Clinical Linguistics & Phonetics, 27(5), 323-338. doi: 10.1017/S1366728909990551
*Li, J. P. W., Law, T., Lam, G. Y. H., & To, C. K. S., (2013). Role of sentence final particles and prosodic cues in irony comprehension in Cantonese-speaking Children with and without ASD. Clinical Linguistics & Phonetics, 27(1), 18-32. doi: 10.3109/02699206.2012.734893
To, C. K. S., Cheung, P., & McLeod, S. (2013). A population study of children's acquisition of Hong Kong Cantonese consonants, vowels, and tones. Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, 56, 103-122. doi: 10.1044/1092-4388 (2012/11-0080)
To, C. K. S., Stokes, S., Man, Y., & T’sou, B. (2013). An analysis of noun definition in Cantonese. Language and Speech, 56(1), 105-124. doi: 10.1177/0023830912440794
2012
To, C. K. S., *Law, T., & Cheung, P. S. P. (2012). Treatment intensity in everyday clinical management of speech sound disorders in Hong Kong. International Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 14, 462-465. doi: 10.3109/17549507.2012.688867
To, C. K. S., *Law, T., & *Li, X. X. (2012). The influence of additional language learning on first language learning in children with language disorders. International Journal of Language & Communication Disorders, 47(2), 208-216. doi:10.111/j.1460-6984.2011.00105
2010
To, C. K. S., Cheung, H-T., Stokes, S., & T’sou, B. (2010). Narrative assessment for Cantonese-speaking children. Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, 53, 648–669. doi: 10.1044/1092-4388(2009/08-0039)
Su, I-Fan, To, C. K. S., & Weekes, B. S. (2010). Hyperlexia in a Chinese-speaking child. Procedia – Social and Behavioral Sciences, 23, 71-72. doi: 10.1016/j.sbspro.2011.09.175
Book Chapters
To, C. K. S., & Cheung, P. S. P. (in press). Cantonese speeh development. In McLeod, S. (Ed.) The Oxford handbook of speech development in languages of the world. Oxford University Press.
Ambreen, S., & To, C. K. S. (in press). Urdu speeh development. In McLeod, S. (Ed.) The Oxford handbook of speech development in languages of the world. Oxford University Press.
2023
Yu, A. C. L., To, C. K. S., & Yao, Y. (2023). Child-directed speech as a potential source of phonetic precursor enhancement in sound change: Evidence from Cantonese. In Life Cycle of Language: Past, Present, and Future. Oxford University Press.
2015
To, C. K. S. (2015). Child language disorders in Cantonese-speaking children. In J. Patterson, & B. L. Rodriguez (Eds.) Multilingual perspectives on child language disorders. Multilingual Matters.
To, C. K. S. (2015). Developmental speech and language disorders. In J. Myers (Ed). Encyclopedia of Chinese Language and Linguistics, UK: Brill Publishers.
2014
To, C. K. S. & Abbot, W. (2014). Speech and language screening in schools. In D. B. McPherson, & C. J. Driscoll (Eds.) School health screening systems: The complete perspective. (pp.95-115). New York: Nova Scientific Publishing.
2013
Weekes, B.S., Su, I-F., To, C. K. S., & Ulicheva, A. (2013). Acquired dyslexia in bilingual speakers: Implications for models of oral reading. In D. Martin (Ed). Researching dyslexia in multilingual settings: diverse perspectives. Clevedon: Multilingual Matters.
2011
To, C, K. S., & Cheung, P. S. P. (2011). Translation to practice: Assessment of children’s speech sound production in Hong Kong. In S. McLeod, & B. A. Goldstein (eds.). Multilingual aspects of speech sound disorders in children. Clevedon: Multilingual Matters.
Standardized Assessments
2020
To, C. K. S., Lam, C. C. C., Woo, E. K. F., Cheung, P. S. P., Lam, L. L., Sheh, A. C. S., Sam, S. K. L., Lee, F. M. Y. (2020). Hong Kong Scales for Assessment of Theory of Mind (HKAToM). Hong Kong: Department of Health, Hong Kong SAR Government.
2018
Wong, A. M. Y., Leung, C., Ng, A. K. H., Cheung P. S. P., Siu, E. K. L., To, C. K. S., Sam, S. K.-L., Cheung, H.-T., Lo, S-K., & Lam C. C. C. (2018). Hong Kong Test of Preschool Oral Language (Cantonese) (TOPOL). Hong Kong: Department of Health, Hong Kong SAR Government.
2006
T’sou, B., Lee, T., Tung, P., Man, Y., Chan, A., & To, C. K. S. (2006). Hong Kong Cantonese Oral Language Assessment Scale. Hong Kong: City University of Hong Kong. ISBN: 978-962-8868-13-1.
Cheung, P., Ng, A., & To, C. K. S. (2006). Hong Kong Cantonese Articulation Test. Hong Kong: City University of Hong Kong. ISBN: 978-962-8868-14-8
Speech and Language Corpus
2022
To., C. K. S., Yao, Y. & Yu, A. C. L. (2022). Multi-ethnic Hong Kong Cantonese Corpus (MeHKCC)https://ccds.edu.hku.hk/