W1b: Lecture 3 - Motor Speech Disorders in Children

Question 1

What is the main difference between phonological and motor speech disorders in children?

Answer 1

Phonological disorders are rule-based errors affecting multiple sounds, while motor speech disorders involve difficulty controlling speech muscles.

Question 2

Why are motor speech disorders less common in children with no known cause for their SSD compared to phonological disorders?

Answer 2

Motor speech disorders are less common because they typically have a neurological origin, whereas phonological disorders are more linguistic.

Question 3

How does childhood apraxia of speech (CAS) differ from acquired apraxia of speech in adults?

Answer 3

CAS is a developmental disorder, while acquired apraxia in adults is usually caused by events like strokes.

Question 4

What are the three key diagnostic features used to identify CAS?

Answer 4

1. Inconsistent errors on consonants and vowels in repeated productions of syllables or words.
2. Lengthened and disrupted coarticulatory transitions between sounds and syllables.
3. Inappropriate prosody, especially in the realisation of lexical or phrasal stress.

Question 5

What are some potential genetic causes of childhood apraxia of speech?

Answer 5

FOXP2 gene abnormalities and conditions like galactosemia.

Question 6

How rare is childhood apraxia of speech in children with no other known cause?

Answer 6

Approximately 1 in 1,000 children have CAS.

Question 7

Why is cerebral palsy a common cause of childhood dysarthria?

Answer 7

It affects motor control, leading to speech difficulties.

Question 8

What distinguishes speech motor delay (SMD) from more severe disorders like CAS and childhood dysarthria?

Answer 8

SMD involves milder motor speech control issues without meeting criteria for CAS or dysarthria.

Question 9

Why is it important to assess whether a child has CAS or dysarthria when both are suspected to co-occur?

Answer 9

To prioritize which disorder is most impacting speech and guide treatment.

Question 10

How frequently does CAS co-occur with other disorders such as Down syndrome or 22q11.2 deletion syndrome?

Answer 10

CAS co-occurs with Down syndrome in about 11.1% and 22q11.2 deletion in 11.8%.

Question 11

What challenges might a child with CAS face in terms of speech outcomes, even after intervention?

Answer 11

They may retain issues with prosody or sound distortions.

Question 12

What is the significance of the Precision Stability Index in identifying speech motor delay?

Answer 12

It helps measure speech precision and stability, although it’s a research tool, not clinical.

Question 13

What kind of intervention is typically necessary for a child with childhood dysarthria?

Answer 13

Intensive speech therapy and, in severe cases, augmentative and alternative communication (AAC).

Question 14

What role does genetic testing play in diagnosing motor speech disorders in children?

Answer 14

It helps identify genetic causes, like FOXP2 mutations or syndromes linked to speech disorders.

Question 15

How can co-occurring motor speech disorders and cognitive impairments affect treatment outcomes in children?

Answer 15

They complicate treatment, often requiring more intensive and tailored interventions

Question 16

How does the treatment approach differ for children with motor speech disorders compared to those with phonological disorders?

Answer 16

Motor speech disorders require more focus on muscle control and coordination, while phonological disorders target linguistic rules.

Question 17

What are the main neurological causes of childhood dysarthria, and how do they affect speech production?

Answer 17

Conditions like cerebral palsy and brain injuries affect motor control, leading to speech issues.

Question 18

Why is it important to differentiate between adult and childhood motor speech disorders?

Answer 18

They have different causes and manifestations, requiring distinct treatment approaches.

Question 19

What might explain the 0% prevalence of motor speech disorders in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) according to the data presented?

Answer 19

ASD typically involves social communication issues rather than motor speech control problems.

Question 20

What are the clinical challenges in diagnosing speech motor delay without validated diagnostic tools?

Answer 20

There are no established clinical measures, making it harder to accurately diagnose SMD.

Question 21

How do speech characteristics like prosody and consonant precision differ between CAS and childhood dysarthria?

Answer 21

CAS often has inconsistent errors and disrupted prosody, while dysarthria affects muscle control, leading to slurred speech.

Question 22

Why are treatment options for childhood dysarthria more limited than those for other speech disorders?

Answer 22

Dysarthria involves neurological impairments that can be harder to address through speech therapy alone

Question 23

What might cause a child with no known neurological condition to show features of both CAS and childhood dysarthria?

Answer 23

A hidden neurological issue or genetic condition may be present, requiring further investigation.