Longitudinal speech and gross motor function development in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy

Aim To examine longitudinal changes in speech and gross motor function in children with cerebral palsy (CP) between 4 years and 14 years of age using the Viking Speech Scale (VSS) and the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS). Method In this longitudinal observational study, 44 children (26 male, 18 female) with CP were assessed at ages 4 years and 14 years. VSS and GMFCS classifications were analysed at both time points using polychoric correlations with confidence intervals generated using bootstrapping to identify patterns of stability and change. Results Classifications were strongly related at both ages. However, more children tended to change VSS levels (43%; 19/44) between 4 years and 14 years than GMFCS levels (34%; 15/44). Very few children demonstrated concurrent changes in both domains. Interpretation Changes in VSS levels may reflect protracted speech development in children with CP. Results indicate that while speech and gross motor abilities are strongly related across development, their patterns of change differ descriptively over time. These findings support the idea that children with CP may benefit from ongoing speech intervention throughout childhood and adolescence, regardless of gross motor function.