Which of the following is a common compensatory pattern of articulation?

Substituting back consonants for forward sounds is a common compensatory pattern of articulation. This phenomenon often occurs in individuals with speech disorders, particularly when there is a difficulty producing certain forward sounds, such as alveolar consonants (like /t/ and /d/). To compensate for this difficulty, individuals may replace these sounds with back consonants (like /k/ and /g/), which can result in a dialect or pattern that preserves the overall intelligibility of speech but does not adhere to standard articulation patterns. This strategy allows the speaker to communicate effectively, albeit with notable deviations in sound production.

The other options reflect different issues in speech production. Using excessive airflow can be a characteristic in cases of certain speech disorders but is not specifically regarded as a compensatory articulation strategy. Increasing syllable length does not directly address articulation issues but rather affects the rhythmic and prosodic aspects of speech. Overusing glottal stops might indicate a compensatory technique but is often associated with particular speech patterns rather than a general one like back consonant substitution. Hence, the focus on back consonant substitution highlights a recognized compensatory approach in articulation disorders.