Factors associated with motor speech control in children with spastic cerebral palsy.
BACKGROUND
Speech production is often impaired in children with cerebral palsy (CP). This study investigated the factors associated with motor speech control in children with spastic cerebral palsy.


METHODS
Thirty-three children with spastic CP who were able to speak were identified for this study. They were classified into two groups: group A (spastic diplegia or hemiplegia, n = 17) and group B (spastic quadriplegia, n = 16). Each child received various assessments, namely cognition, language, modified Verbal Motor Production Assessment for Children (VMPAC), speech intelligibility, CP subtype, and Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS).


RESULTS
Group A showed better cognition and language function, higher modified VMPAC scores and better GMFCS levels than group B (p < 0.05). However, the two groups did not significantly differ in speech intelligibility. Linear regression indicated that all modified VMPAC scores were negatively related to CP subtype (adjusted r2 = 0.51~0.63, p < 0.001). The average modified VMPAC scores had a positive relationship with global language scores (adjusted r2 = 0.63, p < 0.001), and the modified VMPAC scores of the sequence subtests were positively related to the full intelligence quotients (adjusted r2 = 0.55, p < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
The findings of this study suggest that motor impairment severity, cognition and language functions are associated with the motor speech control among children with CP.
Chen
Chia-Ling
CL
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
Lin
Keh-Chung
KC
Chen
Chia-Hui
CH
Chen
Chih-Chi
CC
Liu
Wen-Yu
WY
Chung
Chia-Ying
CY
Chen
Chung-Yao
CY
Wu
Ching-Yi
CY
D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003071:Cognition; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D009048:Motor Skills; D011782:Quadriplegia / Q000523:psychology; D013065:Speech Intelligibility