Diagnostic features of childhood apraxia of speech based on clinical expertise of Lithuanian speech and language pathologists`

Abstract

Theoretical background. The main diagnostical features of childhood apraxia of speech are (ASHA, 2007): inconsistent errors over repeated productions of the same target; lengthened and disrupted coarticulatory transitions between speech sounds; inappropriate prosody at word or sentence level stress. Others (luzzini-Seigel et al., 2015; Shriberg et al., 2017) emphasizes detailed features, which fits the ASHA structure of CAS diagnostics. Aim of the research is to identify the key diagnostic features that Lithuanian speech and language pathologists (SLPs) consider essential for diagnosing childhood apraxia of speech (CAS) based on their clinical expertise. Research method. This paper is prepared as a part of the survey Assessment of Childhood Apraxia of Speech: A Crosslinguistic Survey of Speech-Language Pathologists, conducted by M.Lahtein-Kursa, in 2022. In this paper focus is payed to the open-ended answers of Lithuanian SLPs (N=69). Thematic analysis of the data were conducted using external evidence. Findings. Lithuanian SLPs consider most important CAS diagnostical features: prolonged and interrupted coarticulation (speech initiation, repetition difficulties, intrusive schwa, difficulties in polysyllabic words and consonant clusters, interrupted coarticulation); inconsistency of speech errors (consonant/vowel distortions, omissions, substitutions), inappropriate prosody (equal stress errors, speech rate) and poor speech intelligibility. SLPs emphasize other important conditions related to CAS, such as: oral apraxia (voluntary oral movements imitating, coordination difficulties, articulation groping), coordination disorder (clumsiness, poor gross/fine motor), developmental language disorder, lack of phonological awareness, cognitive behaviour issues and slow progress. Discussion. There is a broad understanding among Lithuanian SLPs, that CAS is comorbid with other disorders, which is consistent with external evidence supporting the comorbid nature of CAS (McNeill et al., 2009; Chenausky, et al., 2023). Lithuanian SLPs possess expertise in identifying CAS, however, there is a need for greater emphasis on recognizing more specific motor-speech related diagnostic features of CAS.