Sensory Profiles in Children with Speech Sound Disorders

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Speech-Language Pathology
• Neurodevelopmental Disorders
• Sensory Integration

Background:

• Sensory processing is crucial for development and daily participation.
• Speech sound disorders (SSD) can involve complex underlying issues.
• Understanding sensory processing in SSD is vital for effective intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate specific sensory processing deficits in children with speech sound disorders (SSD).
• To identify differences across clinical subgroups of SSD.
• To inform tailored therapeutic approaches for speech-language pathologists (SLPs).

Main Methods:

• 143 children (4-9 years) with oral/speech motor disorders were assessed.
• Caregivers completed the Swedish version of the Sensory Profile 2 (SP2).
• Results were compared to standardized norms.

Main Results:

• Children with motor speech disorders (MSDs) and language disorder with oral motor delay (LD+ODD) showed more sensory processing issues.
• The MSD group often had co-occurring LD and ODD diagnoses (MSD+).
• These sensory difficulties were significantly greater than in typically developing peers.

Conclusions:

• Children with SSD, particularly MSD+ and LD+ODD subgroups, exhibit heightened sensory processing challenges.
• These challenges can substantially hinder participation in everyday activities.
• Knowledge of sensory processing dysfunction is key for SLPs to develop effective interventions for children with SSD.