Refereed journal article or data article (A1)
Characterizing the Motor Skills in Children with Specific Language Impairment
List of Authors: Teenu Sanjeevan, Elina Mainela-Arnold
Publisher: S. Karger AG
Publication year: 2019
Journal: Folia Phoniatrica et Logopaedica
Journal name in source: Folia Phoniatrica et Logopaedica
Volume number: 71
Issue number: 1
Start page: 42
End page: 55
Number of pages: 14
ISSN: 1021-7762
eISSN: 1421-9972
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1159/000493262
Self-archived copy’s web address: https://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/39174858
Abstract
Background/Aims:
Specific language impairment (SLI) is characterized by deficits in
language ability. However, studies have also reported motor impairments
in SLI. It has been proposed that the language and motor impairments in
SLI share common origins. This exploratory study compared the gross,
fine, oral, and speech motor skills of children with SLI and children
with typical development (TD) to determine whether children with SLI
would exhibit difficulties on particular motor tasks and to inform us
about the underlying cognitive deficits in SLI.
Methods: A
total of 13 children with SLI (aged 8–12 years) and 14 age-matched
children with TD were administered the Movement Assessment Battery for
Children – Second Edition and the Verbal Motor Production Assessment for
Children to examine gross and fine motor skills and oral and speech
motor skills, respectively.
Results: Children with SLI
scored significantly lower on gross, fine, and speech motor tasks
relative to children with TD. In particular, children with SLI found
movements organized into sequences and movement modifications
challenging. On oral motor tasks, however, children with SLI were
comparable to children with TD.
Conclusion: Impairment of
the motor sequencing and adaptation processes may explain the
performance of children with SLI on these tasks, which may be suggestive
of a procedural memory deficit in SLI.
Background/Aims:
Specific language impairment (SLI) is characterized by deficits in
language ability. However, studies have also reported motor impairments
in SLI. It has been proposed that the language and motor impairments in
SLI share common origins. This exploratory study compared the gross,
fine, oral, and speech motor skills of children with SLI and children
with typical development (TD) to determine whether children with SLI
would exhibit difficulties on particular motor tasks and to inform us
about the underlying cognitive deficits in SLI.
Methods: A
total of 13 children with SLI (aged 8–12 years) and 14 age-matched
children with TD were administered the Movement Assessment Battery for
Children – Second Edition and the Verbal Motor Production Assessment for
Children to examine gross and fine motor skills and oral and speech
motor skills, respectively.
Results: Children with SLI
scored significantly lower on gross, fine, and speech motor tasks
relative to children with TD. In particular, children with SLI found
movements organized into sequences and movement modifications
challenging. On oral motor tasks, however, children with SLI were
comparable to children with TD.
Conclusion: Impairment of
the motor sequencing and adaptation processes may explain the
performance of children with SLI on these tasks, which may be suggestive
of a procedural memory deficit in SLI.
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