Perceptual analysis of speech following traumatic brain injury in childhood

• Published in: Brain injury 2002-05, Vol.16 (5), p.415-446
• Main Authors: Cahill, Louise M., Murdoch, Bruce E., Theodoros, Deborah G.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Biological and medical sciences; Brain Damage, Chronic - diagnosis; Brain Damage, Chronic - psychology; Brain Injuries - diagnosis; Brain Injuries - psychology; Child; Child, Preschool; Dysarthria - diagnosis; Dysarthria - psychology; Female; Humans; Injuries of the nervous system and the skull. Diseases due to physical agents; Male; Medical sciences; Speech Articulation Tests; Speech Intelligibility; Traumas. Diseases due to physical agents; Tropical medicine
• ISSN: 0269-9052; 1362-301X
• DOI: 10.1080/02699050110119871

Primary objective : To investigate perceptually the speech dimensions, oromotor function, and speech intelligibility of a group of individuals with traumatic brain injury (TBI) acquired in childhood. Research design : The speech of 24 children with TBI was analysed perceptually and compared with that of a group of non-neurologically impaired children matched for age and sex. Main outcome and results : The 16 dysarthric TBI subjects were significantly less intelligible than the control subjects, and demonstrated significant impairment in 12 of the 33 speech dimensions rated. In addition, the eight non-dysarthric TBI subjects were significantly impaired in many areas of oromotor function on the Frenchay Dysarthria Assessment, indicating some degree of pre-clinical speech impairment. Conclusion : The results of the perceptual analysis are discussed in terms of the possible underlying pathophysiological bases of the deviant speech features identified, and the need for a comprehensive instrumental assessment, to more accurately determine the level of breakdown in the speech production mechanism in children following TBI.