N Potter, R Kent, J Lazarus
Children
with motor speech disorders frequently also exhibit manual disorders. Age-appropriate modifications of maximum
performance and force regulation tasks, provide information about the
correlation and co-development of the manual and speech systems in typically
developing preschool children.
The
purpose of this study was to examine the developmental trends and the
correlation between speech and manual development and to develop a reference
database for rate, timing, and sequencing maximum performance tasks and force
regulation tasks in typically developing preschool children.
Measures
of real word and nonword single syllable repetition and tri-syllable sequencing
and repetition, finger-thumb tapping, finger sequencing, tongue, pinch, and
hand maximum strength and force regulation, utilizing maximum performance
tasks, the Iowa Oral Pressure Instrument, and a strain gauge unit were elicited
from 50 children ages 3;0-5;5.
Children
increase in rate and ability to sequence and decrease in intra-subject
variability as a function of age. Children who experience difficulty sequencing
speech tasks also experience difficulty with sequencing manual tasks.
Maximum
performance and force regulation tasks are appropriate measures of neurological
development and enhance our understanding of the development and correlation of motor control required
for speech, non-speech, and manual tasks in preschool children.