Which of these dimensions would best assess how loud a child is being?

The dimension that best assesses how loud a child is being is intensity. Intensity refers to the strength or amplitude of a sound wave, which directly correlates with perceived loudness. When measuring sound, intensity is typically measured in decibels (dB), and higher intensity levels indicate louder sounds.

In the context of assessing a child's vocal output, understanding intensity is crucial since it allows for quantification of their volume. For instance, if a speech therapist is working with a child on increasing their vocal projection, focusing on intensity measurements would provide valuable insights into their progress.

Other dimensions, such as frequency, duration, and latency, do not measure loudness directly. Frequency pertains to the pitch of the sound, duration relates to how long a sound lasts, and latency involves the timing of a response or behavior relative to a trigger. Each of these factors has its importance in communication disorders, but intensity is the dimension that specifically addresses volume and loudness.