Which type of error occurs when similar sounding words are confused?

The correct answer is phonemic error, which refers to mistakes that arise when words are confused due to their similar sounds. This type of error typically involves the misinterpretation or mispronunciation of words that may sound alike but have different meanings. Phonemic errors are particularly relevant in language processing and understanding because they illustrate how closely related sounds can lead to confusion in communication.

In contrast, semantic errors pertain to the meaning of words rather than their sounds; these might occur when words that relate to similar ideas are confused. Visual errors involve misreading or mixing up words based on how they are written rather than how they sound. Acoustic errors could imply a misunderstanding related to sound, but these are not typically defined as a distinct category in cognitive psychology like phonemic errors are. Thus, phonemic error is the appropriate term for errors stemming from the confusion between similar sounding words.