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Fine motor function and oral-motor imitation skills in preschool-age children with speech-sound disorders
Amy J Newmeyer1, Sandra Grether, Carol Grasha
1Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229, USA. amy.newmeyer@cchmc.org
Insights
Children with speech-sound disorders often show fine motor deficits. Abnormal oral-motor imitation skills correlate with lower fine motor performance, impacting preschooler evaluations and treatments.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Speech-Language Pathology
- Developmental Motor Skills
Background:
- Preschool children with speech-sound disorders (SSD) may experience concurrent fine motor skill impairments.
- Early identification of these deficits is crucial for effective intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate fine motor function abnormalities in young children diagnosed with SSD.
- To explore the relationship between oral-motor imitation abilities and fine motor performance in this population.
Main Methods:
- Prospective evaluation of 32 preschool-aged children (2-5 years) with SSD.
- Utilized the Peabody Developmental Motor Scales (PDMS) for fine motor assessment.
- Employed the Kaufman Speech Praxis Test for Children (KSPT) to measure oral-motor imitation skills.
Main Results:
- A significant association was found between abnormal oral-motor imitation skills (KSPT) and below-average fine motor performance (PDMS).
- Children exhibiting difficulties in imitating oral movements were more likely to have impaired fine motor skills.
Conclusions:
- Fine motor deficits are detectable in preschool children with speech-sound disorders.
- Oral-motor imitation skills serve as a potential indicator for associated fine motor impairments.
- Findings underscore the importance of comprehensive assessments for children with severe SSD.
Abstract:
Preschool-aged children with speech-sound disorders may be at risk for associated deficits in fine motor function. The objectives of this study were 2-fold: (1) to determine whether abnormalities in fine motor function could be detected in 2- to 5-year-old children with speech-sound disorders and (2) to determine whether there was a correlation between abnormal oral-motor imitation skills and abnormal fine motor function. Thirty-two children with speech-sound disorders (6 female, 26 male) were prospectively evaluated from July 2003 to July 2005, and the Peabody Developmental Motor Scales and the Kaufman Speech Praxis Test for Children were administered. The presence of abnormal oral-motor imitation skills as measured by the Kaufman Speech Praxis Test was associated with below-average fine motor performance. This finding has important implications for evaluation and treatment of preschool children with severe speech-sound disorders.
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