Implementing two treatment approaches to childhood dysarthria

Abstract

The paucity of evidence and detail in the literature regarding speech treatment for children with dysarthria due to cerebral palsy (CP) renders it difficult for researchers to replicate studies and make further inroads into this area in need of exploration. Furthermore, for speech-language pathologists (SLPs) wishing to follow treatments that the literature indicates have promise, little guidance is available on the details of the treatments that yielded the positive results. The present article details the implementation of two treatment approaches in speech treatment research for children with dysarthria: Speech Systems Intelligibility Treatment (SSIT) and the Lee Silverman Voice Treatment LOUD (LSVT LOUD). Specific strategies, primarily for treatment, but also for outcome measurement and acoustic analysis of dysarthric speech, are described. These techniques are provided for researchers and clinicians to consider implementing in order to advance speech treatment for this population. New data from research using these approaches are presented, including findings of acoustic vowel space changes following both speech treatments.

Keywords::

• Intelligibility
• childhood dysarthria
• speech treatment
• treatment research

Note

Acknowledgements

Many thanks to the children and their families, and to Kellianne Beers, Carol Boliek, Stephen Camarata, Wenli Chen, Cynthia Fox, Andrew Gordon, Sih-Chiao Hsu, Binna Lee, Lauren Liria, Gemma Moya-Gale, Lorraine Ramig, Elanna Seid, Jennifer Spielman, and Kenay Sudler. The author also thanks Justine Allen for her drawings, which are used with her permission as Figures 1 and 2. Thanks also to Katie Mosher and Katrina Andres, the main sources for the innovative, motivating games.

Declaration of interest: The author reports no conflict of interest. The author alone is responsible for the content and writing of the paper.

Notes

1. This article includes the names of toys, games, and applications that are or may be proprietary terms or trademarks. Their inclusion does not imply that they have acquired a non-proprietary or general significance or any other judgement concerning legal status.