Purpose: Studies of infants' early vocalizations have proven helpful in describing the developmental characteristics of various communication disorders. However, few studies have addressed the early ...vocalizations of infants and toddlers who were later diagnosed, as older children, with childhood apraxia of speech (CAS). We refer to these infants and toddlers as "LCAS". Extant studies also often lack a comparison group of infants and toddlers who were later diagnosed, as older children, with a speech sound disorder (SSD). We refer to these infants and toddlers as "LSSD". We aimed to compare the volubility, consonant emergence, and syllabic structure from birth to age of 2 years, as observed in home videos, among 3 groups of infants and toddlers: LCAS, LSSD, and typically developing (TD). Method: We assessed the speech-language skills of 17 children (3.5-8.8 years old; 7 with CAS, 5 with SSD, and 5 TD) and transcribed home videos (obtained from parents) of these same children from birth to age of 2 years. Early vocalizations were coded as nonresonant or resonant. Nonresonant vocalizations could not be transcribed with the International Phonetic Alphabet. Resonant (speechlike) vocalizations were broadly transcribed, and resonant consonants were categorized by place, manner, and voicing. Results: Effect size comparisons revealed LCAS infants and toddlers were less voluble, used fewer resonant consonants, had a less diverse phonetic repertoire, and acquired resonant consonants later than either the LSSD or TD participants. For LSSD infants and toddlers, means for these dependent variables were lower than the means demonstrated by the TD group, but effect size were not strong due to LSSD variability. Conclusions: Findings imply there might be clinical "red flags" that could assist the identification of infants and toddlers at risk for later diagnosis of CAS. Data did not support red flags for identifying infants and toddlers at risk for later diagnosis of SSD. Because of significant study limitations, results obtained should be considered preliminary.
Highlights • We examined speech sound development (birth–24 months) in CAS. • Typical infants and toddlers used more resonant phones than those with CAS. • All CAS infants and toddlers demonstrated ...difficulty with voiceless productions. • CAS infants and toddlers had difficulty with fricative manner and glottal placement. • CAS infants and toddlers used mostly V and CV syllable shapes.
Associations between obstructive sleep apnea and motor speech disorders in adults have been suggested, though little has been written about possible effects of sleep apnea on speech acquisition in ...children with motor speech disorders. This report details the medical and speech history of a nonverbal child with seizures and severe apraxia of speech. For 6 years, he made no functional gains in speech production, despite intensive speech therapy. After tonsillectomy for obstructive sleep apnea at age 6 years, he experienced a reduction in seizures and rapid growth in speech production. The findings support a relationship between obstructive sleep apnea and childhood apraxia of speech. The rather late diagnosis and treatment of obstructive sleep apnea, especially in light of what was such a life-altering outcome (gaining functional speech), has significant implications. Most speech sounds develop during ages 2-5 years, which is also the peak time of occurrence of adenotonsillar hypertrophy and childhood obstructive sleep apnea. Hence it is important to establish definitive diagnoses, and to consider early and more aggressive treatments for obstructive sleep apnea, in children with motor speech disorders.
There are multiple frameworks for goal writing that are applicable to the practice of speech-language pathology. Motor-based speech disorders are a subset of speech sound disorders that are thought ...to require specific elements of intervention that are typically not addressed in the traditional frameworks used in the clinical setting. The purpose of this tutorial is to review general approaches of goal writing and suggest additional elements that may be used to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of treatment for childhood motor speech disorders, specifically childhood apraxia of speech (CAS).
Existing models of goal writing were reviewed to ascertain elements common to most of these models. A basic framework was chosen and modified to include behaviors, conditions, and approaches to goal measurement tailored to the clinical needs of children with CAS. A resource for clinical decision making for children with CAS was developed to inform goal writing at the onset of treatment and adaptations that occur over the course of treatment. Case studies are presented to demonstrate how the presented framework can be applied to writing goals for motor-based treatment for two different children with CAS.
Children with CAS require a specialized approach to intervention, which requires goals to reflect the unique clinical needs of this population. This tutorial offers resources that use the best available research evidence and current understanding of effective treatment practices for CAS to guide clinical decision making for motor-based intervention and goal writing. This tutorial is intended to guide treatment planning across varied settings to facilitate progress and optimize treatment outcomes for children with CAS.
This study examines the relation between perceived cognitive and physical threat after a cancer diagnosis and posttraumatic growth (PTG). In total, 169 breast, prostate, and colorectal cancer ...survivors completed questionnaires. Hierarchical regression models found after controlling for demographic and medical variables, depression, anxiety, and perceived threat account for 41.8% of the variance of positive cognitive processing, and these variables along with positive cognitive processing accounted for 42.7% of the variance of PTG. Positive cognitive processing mediated the pathways between perceived physical threat and PTG. Cognitive processing appears to play a key role in the emergence of PTG following cancer. By exploring survivors' cognitions and perceived threat, psychosocial providers may help cancer survivors cultivate PTG.
The following books are reviewed: (1) Dancing on Our Turtle's Back: Stories of Nishaabeg Re-Creation, Resurgence and a New Emergence, by Leanne Simpson; (2) Red Skin, White Masks: Rejecting the ...Colonial Politics of Recognition, by Glen Sean Coulthard; (3) Mohawk Interruptus: Political Life Across the Borders of Settler States, by Audra Simpson; and (4) The Winter We Danced: Voices from the Past, the Future, and the Idle No More Movement, by the Kino-nda-nilmi Collective.
