scholarly journals An Automated Lexical Stress Classification Tool for Assessing Dysprosody in Childhood Apraxia of Speech

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 1408
Author(s):  
Jacqueline McKechnie ◽  
Mostafa Shahin ◽  
Beena Ahmed ◽  
Patricia McCabe ◽  
Joanne Arciuli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Prior Knowledge ◽  
Lexical Stress ◽  
Automated Classification ◽  
Apraxia Of Speech ◽  
Childhood Apraxia Of Speech ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Stress Classification ◽  
Stress Contrast ◽  
Classification Tool ◽  
Impaired Speech

Childhood apraxia of speech (CAS) commonly affects the production of lexical stress contrast in polysyllabic words. Automated classification tools have the potential to increase reliability and efficiency in measuring lexical stress. Here, factors affecting the accuracy of a custom-built deep neural network (DNN)-based classification tool are evaluated. Sixteen children with typical development (TD) and 26 with CAS produced 50 polysyllabic words. Words with strong–weak (SW, e.g., dinosaur) or WS (e.g., banana) stress were fed to the classification tool, and the accuracy measured (a) against expert judgment, (b) for speaker group, and (c) with/without prior knowledge of phonemic errors in the sample. The influence of segmental features and participant factors on tool accuracy was analysed. Linear mixed modelling showed significant interaction between group and stress type, surviving adjustment for age and CAS severity. For TD, agreement for SW and WS words was >80%, but CAS speech was higher for SW (>80%) than WS (~60%). Prior knowledge of segmental errors conferred no clear advantage. Automatic lexical stress classification shows promise for identifying errors in children’s speech at diagnosis or with treatment-related change, but accuracy for WS words in apraxic speech needs improvement. Further training of algorithms using larger sets of labelled data containing impaired speech and WS words may increase accuracy.

A Pilot Single-Case Experimental Design Study of Rapid Syllable Transition Treatment for Italian Children With Childhood Apraxia of Speech

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-15
Author(s):  
Ilaria Scarcella ◽  
Letizia Michelazzo ◽  
Patricia McCabe
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Design ◽  
Single Case ◽  
Lexical Stress ◽  
Effect Sizes ◽  
Apraxia Of Speech ◽  
Childhood Apraxia Of Speech ◽  
Treatment Results ◽  
Italian Children ◽  
Treatment Procedures ◽  
Stress Patterns

Background The Rapid Syllable Transition (ReST) treatment is an effective intervention designed to address the planning and programming disorder found in childhood apraxia of speech. To date, no study has considered its use with children who speak languages other than English. Aim This pilot study aimed to examine the use of ReST treatment with Italian children. We hypothesized that the ReST approach would improve the overall accuracy of the targeted behaviors of lexical stress, smoothness, and phonemic accuracy, whereas phonemic and phonetic accuracy of untreated items would remain stable. Method Two monolingual Italian-speaking children with childhood apraxia of speech received therapy in 12 one-hour sessions, 2–3 times per week, using a single-case experimental design. The treatment procedures used in English were replicated in Italian with one change: In English, two stress patterns are treated. Italian commonly uses three stress patterns; therefore, the stimuli were modified accordingly. Accuracy of articulation, lexical stress, and smoothness were assessed at pretreatment and 1 day, 1 week, and 4 months posttreatment in treated and untreated pseudowords and in real words and sentences. Results Both children improved on treated pseudowords and real words with moderate effect sizes, but only one child generalized to untreated pseudowords. Maintenance of treatment results was observed in both participants. Articulation of control phonemes did not change. Conclusions ReST treatment in Italian is feasible, and a treatment effect was found, showing that its use may be valid in languages other than English. Further research is required. Supplemental Material https://doi.org/10.1044/2021_AJSLP-20-00133

scholarly journals A diagnostic marker for childhood apraxia of speech: the lexical stress ratio

2003 ◽  
Vol 17 (7) ◽  
pp. 549-574 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lawrence D. Shriberg ◽  
Thomas F. Campbell ◽  
Heather B. Karlsson ◽  
Roger L. Brown ◽  
Jane L. Mcsweeny ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stress Ratio ◽  
Diagnostic Marker ◽  
Lexical Stress ◽  
Apraxia Of Speech ◽  
Childhood Apraxia Of Speech

Bang for Your Buck: A Single-Case Experimental Design Study of Practice Amount and Distribution in Treatment for Childhood Apraxia of Speech

2019 ◽  
Vol 62 (9) ◽  
pp. 3160-3182 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edwin Maas ◽  
Christina Gildersleeve-Neumann ◽  
Kathy Jakielski ◽  
Nicolette Kovacs ◽  
Ruth Stoeckel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Single Case ◽  
Evidence Base ◽  
Distributed Practice ◽  
Single Subject ◽  
Single Subject Design ◽  
Apraxia Of Speech ◽  
Childhood Apraxia Of Speech ◽  
Opposite Pattern ◽  
Massed Practice ◽  
Treatment Conditions

Purpose The aim of this study was to examine 2 aspects of treatment intensity in treatment for childhood apraxia of speech (CAS): practice amount and practice distribution. Method Using an alternating-treatments single-subject design with multiple baselines, we compared high versus low amount of practice, and massed versus distributed practice, in 6 children with CAS. Conditions were manipulated in the context of integral stimulation treatment. Changes in perceptual accuracy, scored by blinded analysts, were quantified with effect sizes. Results Four children showed an advantage for high amount of practice, 1 showed an opposite effect, and 1 showed no condition difference. For distribution, 4 children showed a clear advantage for massed over distributed practice post treatment; 1 showed an opposite pattern, and 1 showed no clear difference. Follow-up revealed a similar pattern. All children demonstrated treatment effects (larger gains for treated than untreated items). Conclusions High practice amount and massed practice were associated with more robust speech motor learning in most children with CAS, compared to low amount and distributed practice, respectively. Variation in effects across children warrants further research to determine factors that predict optimal treatment conditions. Finally, this study adds to the evidence base supporting the efficacy of integral stimulation treatment for CAS. Supplemental Material https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.9630599

What Does It Mean to Be Social? Defining the Social Landscape for Children With Childhood Apraxia of Speech

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 843-852 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nancy Tarshis ◽  
Michelle Garcia Winner ◽  
Pamela Crooke
Keyword(s):  
Social Development ◽  
Social Goals ◽  
Apraxia Of Speech ◽  
Childhood Apraxia Of Speech ◽  
Social Competencies ◽  
The Social ◽  
Social Landscape ◽  
Communication Challenges ◽  
Primary Focus ◽  
Speech Motor

Purpose What does it mean to be social? In addition, how is that different from behaving socially appropriately? The purpose of this clinical focus article is to tackle these two questions along with taking a deeper look into how communication challenges in childhood apraxia of speech impact social competencies for young children. Through the lens of early social development and social competency, this clinical focus article will explore how speech motor challenges can impact social development and what happens when young learners miss early opportunities to grow socially. While not the primary focus, the clinical focus article will touch upon lingering issues for individuals diagnosed with childhood apraxia of speech as they enter the school-aged years. Conclusion Finally, it will address some foundational aspects of intervention and offer ideas and suggestions for structuring therapy to address both speech and social goals.

The effectiveness of gross motor interventions in improving motor function in childhood apraxia of speech

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Heike Nolte ◽  
Regan Solomons ◽  
Priscilla Springer ◽  
Martin Kidd ◽  
Eileen Africa
Keyword(s):  
Motor Function ◽  
Apraxia Of Speech ◽  
Childhood Apraxia Of Speech ◽  
Gross Motor
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