title: Limited acquisition and generalisation of rhotics with ultrasound visual feedback in childhood apraxia.
abstract: Ultrasound visual feedback of the tongue is one treatment option for individuals with persisting speech sound errors. This study evaluated children's performance during acquisition and generalisation of American English rhotics using ultrasound feedback. Three children aged 10-13 with persisting speech sound errors associated with childhood apraxia of speech (CAS) were treated for 14 one-hour sessions. Two of the participants increased the accuracy of their rhotic production during practise trials within treatment sessions, but none demonstrated generalisation to untreated words. Lack of generalisation may be due to a failure to acquire the target with sufficient accuracy during treatment, or to co-existing linguistic weaknesses that are not addressed in a motor-based treatment. Results suggest a need to refine the intervention procedures for CAS and/or a need to identify appropriate candidates for intervention to optimise learning.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Communication Sciences & Disorders , Syracuse University , Syracuse , NY , USA.|b Haskins Laboratories , New Haven , CT , USA.
authors.forename: Jonathan L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Preston
authors.affiliation: c Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences , University of Arizona , Tucson , AZ , USA.
authors.forename: Edwin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Maas
authors.affiliation: b Haskins Laboratories , New Haven , CT , USA.
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Whittle
authors.affiliation: a Department of Communication Sciences & Disorders , Syracuse University , Syracuse , NY , USA.
authors.forename: Megan C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Leece
authors.affiliation: d Department of Speech Pathology , University of Sydney , Sydney , Australia.
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: McCabe
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001072:Apraxias / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D001676:Biofeedback, Psychology / Q000379:methods; D002648:Child; D003463:Cues; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D008297:Male; D013060:Speech; D013061:Speech Acoustics; D013068:Speech Production Measurement; D014059:Tongue / Q000502:physiology; D014463:Ultrasonography
keywords: Childhood apraxia of speech; feedback; rhotics; ultrasound