Samantha J Turner1,2, Adam P Vogel3,4, Bronwyn Parry-Fielder5, Rhonda Campbell6, Ingrid E Scheffer7,8,9, Angela T Morgan7,10. 1. Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, The Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, Australia, samantha.turner@mcri.edu.au. 2. Speech and Language Group, Clinical Sciences Theme, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia, samantha.turner@mcri.edu.au. 3. Centre for Neuroscience of Speech, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. 4. Redenlab, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. 5. Department of Speech Pathology, The Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, Australia. 6. Bellfield Speech Pathology, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. 7. Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, The Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, Australia. 8. Epilepsy Research Centre, Department of Medicine, The University of Melbourne, Austin Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. 9. Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. 10. Speech and Language Group, Clinical Sciences Theme, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The clinical course of childhood apraxia of speech (CAS) is poorly understood. Of the few longitudinal studies in the field, only one has examined adolescent outcomes in speech, language, and literacy. This study is the first to report long-term speech, language, and academic outcomes in an adolescent, Liam, with CAS. METHODS: Speech, language, literacy, and academic outcome data were collected, including 3 research-based assessments. Overall, data were available at 17 time points from 3;10 to 15 years. RESULTS: Liam had moderate-to-severe expressive language impairment and poor reading, writing, and spelling up to 10 years. His numeracy was at or above the national average from 8 to 14 years. He made gains in preadolescence, with average expressive language at 11 years and above average reading and writing at 14 years. Nonword reading, reading comprehension, and spelling remained areas of weakness. Receptive language impairment was evident at 13 years, which was an unexpected finding. CONCLUSION: Findings from single cases can be hypothesis generating but require verification in larger cohorts. This case shows that at least some children with CAS may gain ground in adolescence, relative to same age peers, in expressive language and academic areas such as reading and writing.
OBJECTIVE: The clinical course of childhood apraxia of speech (CAS) is poorly understood. Of the few longitudinal studies in the field, only one has examined adolescent outcomes in speech, language, and literacy. This study is the first to report long-term speech, language, and academic outcomes in an adolescent, Liam, with CAS. METHODS: Speech, language, literacy, and academic outcome data were collected, including 3 research-based assessments. Overall, data were available at 17 time points from 3;10 to 15 years. RESULTS: Liam had moderate-to-severe expressive language impairment and poor reading, writing, and spelling up to 10 years. His numeracy was at or above the national average from 8 to 14 years. He made gains in preadolescence, with average expressive language at 11 years and above average reading and writing at 14 years. Nonword reading, reading comprehension, and spelling remained areas of weakness. Receptive language impairment was evident at 13 years, which was an unexpected finding. CONCLUSION: Findings from single cases can be hypothesis generating but require verification in larger cohorts. This case shows that at least some children with CAS may gain ground in adolescence, relative to same age peers, in expressive language and academic areas such as reading and writing.