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Obstructive sleep apnea, seizures, and childhood apraxia of speech

Susan S Caspari1, Edythe A Strand, Suresh Kotagal

  • 1Speech Language Pathology, Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, USA. casparisuematt@prodigy.net

Pediatric Neurology
|May 20, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Obstructive sleep apnea may significantly impact speech development in children. Treating sleep apnea in a child with apraxia of speech led to rapid speech gains.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric neurology
  • Speech-language pathology

Background:

  • Childhood apraxia of speech (CAS) is a motor speech disorder affecting speech sound production.
  • Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is increasingly recognized as a potential comorbidity in children with neurological and developmental disorders.

Observation:

  • A nonverbal child with severe CAS and seizures received no speech gains for 6 years despite intensive therapy.
  • The child underwent tonsillectomy at age 6 for diagnosed obstructive sleep apnea.

Findings:

  • Following surgery for OSA, the child experienced reduced seizures and significant, rapid improvement in speech production.
  • This case suggests a strong link between obstructive sleep apnea and the severity and progression of childhood apraxia of speech.

Implications:

  • Early diagnosis and aggressive treatment of OSA are crucial for children with CAS, particularly during peak incidence ages (2-5 years).
  • Addressing OSA may be a critical, yet often overlooked, factor in improving speech outcomes for children with motor speech disorders.

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