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Speech and oromotor outcome in adolescents born preterm: relationship to motor tract integrity

Gemma B Northam1, Frédérique Liégeois, Wui K Chong

  • 1UCL Institute of Child Health, London, UK. g.northam@ich.ucl.ac.uk

The Journal of Pediatrics
|October 18, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Speech and oromotor control difficulties are common in adolescents born preterm. Injury to the left corticospinal and corticobulbar tracts (CST/CBT) significantly predicts poorer speech outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Developmental Pediatrics
  • Speech-Language Pathology

Background:

  • Preterm birth (<33 weeks' gestation) can lead to a spectrum of brain injuries.
  • Adolescents born preterm often face challenges in neurodevelopmental outcomes, including speech.
  • Understanding the link between specific brain abnormalities and speech deficits is crucial for early intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate speech abilities in adolescents born preterm.
  • To identify associations between specific speech deficits and brain abnormalities.
  • To investigate the role of corticospinal and corticobulbar tract (CST/CBT) integrity in speech outcomes.

Main Methods:

  • Fifty adolescents born preterm (mean age 16 years) underwent comprehensive speech assessments.
  • Speech-sound processing, production, and oromotor control were evaluated.
  • Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) were used to assess brain injury, focusing on CST/CBT integrity.

Main Results:

  • Difficulties in speech and oromotor control were prevalent, despite no formal diagnoses of developmental speech disorders.
  • Neurologic impairment and left-lateralized CST/CBT abnormalities on DWI were significant predictors of poor speech and oromotor control.
  • These left-hemisphere CST/CBT abnormalities were most pronounced in the posterior limb of the internal capsule.

Conclusions:

  • Speech and oromotor control challenges are common sequelae in adolescents born preterm.
  • Adolescents with preterm-born related injuries to the left CST/CBT pathways are at higher risk for speech deficits.
  • Targeted assessment and intervention for CST/CBT integrity may be beneficial for this population.
Abstract

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