Methods of assessing of childhood apraxia of speech: systematic review

ABSTRACT

Purpose

Systematically review the protocols and/or assessments that contribute to the diagnosis of CAS and classify them according to the clinical dimension evaluated

Research strategy

Study of systematic literature review in the databases MEDLINE (accessed via PubMed), LILACS, Scopus and SciELO with the descriptors Apraxias, Childhood apraxia of speech, Evaluation, Assessment, Validation Studies, Evaluation Studies, Language Therapy, Rehabilitation of Speech and Language Disorders, Child and Child, Preschool.

Selection criteria

The search for scientific articles in the databases was conducted by three independent researchers. Studies that clearly assessed subjects with suspected or diagnosed PIA were included. The reviewers performed data collection with regard to methodological characteristics, interventions and study outcomes using standardized forms. The main data collected was related to the assessment procedures of CAS.

Results

Most studies (14 of the 21 included) made an association between the assessment of motor and/or articulatory and segmental skills. Five performed an evaluation of all listed aspects: motor and/or articulatory, segmental and suprasegmental; and two underwent only motor and/or articulatory assessment. The age of the subjects in the present study ranged from 3 to 12 years.

Conclusion

The assessment of CAS generally involves the association between the assessment of motor and/or articulatory and segmental skills. It is suggested that further studies in order to evidence validity for the assessment of CAS.

Keywords:
Rehabilitation of speech and language disorders; Speech; Speech intelligibility; Apraxias; Child