Communication Modes and Functions in Children With Cerebral Palsy.

Purpose This study seeks to determine how speech-language impairments relate to the frequency and diversity of communication modes and functions produced by children with cerebral palsy (CP) during interactions with their mothers. Method We studied 40 children with CP ( = 62 months) comprising three groups: those who were unable to speak and had anarthria ( = 15), those with speech motor impairment and language comprehension impairment (SMI-LCI; = 15), and those with speech motor impairment and typical language comprehension (SMI-LCT; = 10). Mother-child play interactions were coded for child modes and functions.

Longitudinal development of communication in children with cerebral palsy between 24 and 53 months: Predicting speech outcomes.

Objective: To determine whether communication at 2 years predicted communication at 4 years in children with cerebral palsy (CP); and whether the age a child first produces words imitatively predicts change in speech production.

Method: 30 children (15 males) with CP participated and were seen 5 times at 6-month intervals between 24 and 53 months (mean age at time 1 = 26.9 months (SD 1.

Alignment of classification paradigms for communication abilities in children with cerebral palsy.

Aim: We examined three communication ability classification paradigms for children with cerebral palsy (CP): the Communication Function Classification System (CFCS), the Viking Speech Scale (VSS), and the Speech Language Profile Groups (SLPG). Questions addressed interjudge reliability, whether the VSS and the CFCS captured impairments in speech and language, and whether there were differences in speech intelligibility among levels within each classification paradigm.

Method: Eighty children (42 males, 38 females) with a range of types and severity levels of CP participated (mean age 60mo, range 50-72mo [SD 5mo]).

Speech and language development in 2-year-old children with cerebral palsy.

Objective: We examined early speech and language development in children who had cerebral palsy. Questions addressed whether children could be classified into early profile groups on the basis of speech and language skills and whether there were differences on selected speech and language measures among groups.

Methods: Speech and language assessments were completed on 27 children with CP who were between the ages of 24 and 30 months (mean age 27.

Assessment of social function in four-year-old children with cerebral palsy.

Objective: To determine whether scores from the social function domain of the Paediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory (PEDI) would reflect differences among speech-language profile groups for children with cerebral palsy (CP).

Methods: Thirty-four children with CP participated (mean age = 54.4 months).

Qualitative analysis of decision making by speech-language pathologists in the design of aided visual displays.

For children with complex communication needs, augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices offer a functional way to communicate thoughts and feelings. Despite many significant advances in the field, effective and efficient aided communication can remain a challenge for some clients and their partners. One critical element of aided AAC intervention is systematic attention to the design of the communication display itself.