Perceptual analysis of speech following traumatic brain injury in childhood

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE: To investigate perceptually the speech dimensions, oromotor function, and speech intelligibility of a group of individuals with traumatic brain injury (TBI) acquired in childhood. RESEARCH DESIGN: The speech of 24 children with TBI was analysed perceptually and compared with that of a group of non-neurologically impaired children matched for age and sex. MAIN OUTCOME AND RESULTS: The 16 dysarthric TBI subjects were significantly less intelligible than the control subjects, and demonstrated significant impairment in 12 of the 33 speech dimensions rated. In addition, the eight non-dysarthric TBI subjects were significantly impaired in many areas of oromotor function on the Frenchay Dysarthria Assessment, indicating some degree of pre-clinical speech impairment. CONCLUSION: The results of the perceptual analysis are discussed in terms of the possible underlying pathophysiological bases of the deviant speech features identified, and the need for a comprehensive instrumental assessment, to more accurately determine the level of breakdown in the speech production mechanism in children following TBI.