Archive for the Pediatrics Category

Building Pathways to Better Voices: Intensive Voice Therapy and Neuroplasticity in Children’s Speech

As speech-language pathologists (SLPs), we work with children who face challenges with speech production. These difficulties, broadly termed motor speech disorders, can make it hard for children to coordinate the precise movements needed for clear communication. One common type of motor speech disorder is dysarthria, which is often associated with conditions like cerebral palsy (CP).

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LSVT LOUD®: A Versatile Treatment Approach Across the Lifespan

Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) are always on the lookout for effective, evidence-based treatments that can be applied to a wide range of clients. One such treatment that has proven its versatility across age groups is LSVT LOUD. Originally developed for adults with Parkinson’s disease, LSVT LOUD has expanded its reach to benefit other neurological adult and pediatric populations.

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Our Down Syndrome LSVT Success Story (Part 2): The Therapist Perspective

I have been exploring the option of using LSVT BIG® with kids for a few years now. I pursued additional referrals from pediatricians since that time and had a lot of interest but just got my first official referral this past summer.  Then I found out it was a 4-year-old boy with Down Syndrome!

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Our Down Syndrome LSVT Success Story (Part 1): The Parent Perspective

My son Wesley completed the 4 week long LSVT BIG and LSVT LOUD program this summer.  Wes was 4 years 2 months old at the time.  He has Down syndrome, is nonverbal,
wears AFO leg braces and has glasses.  

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Report on the Impact of LSVT LOUD in Improving Communication of a Preschool Child and a Young Adult with Cerebral Palsy / Rapport clinique de l’impact du protocole LSVT LOUD pour améliorer la communication d’un enfant d’âge préscolaire et d’un jeune adulte ayant une paralysie cérébrale

This clinical report presents real-world clinical data on the use of LSVT LOUD to improve the communication of one preschooler and one young adult with cerebral palsy (CP). Treatment resulted in significant improvements in vocal loudness, communicative effectiveness, participation, and speech (for both clients) and velopharyngeal function (for the young adult) / Notre article clinique rapporte des données cliniques « réelles » relatives à l’utilisation du protocole LSVT LOUD pour améliorer la communication d’une enfant d’âge préscolaire et d’un jeune adulte ayant une paralysie cérébrale. L’intervention offerte a permis d’améliorer de façon significative l’intensité vocale, l’efficacité de la communication, la participation communicative et la parole (chez les deux patient(e)s), ainsi que la fonction vélopharyngée (chez le jeune adulte).

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Intensive Voice Treatment (LSVT LOUD) for Children With Down Syndrome: Phase I Outcomes

Based on this initial study, we have enough proof to continue to establish higher levels of treatment evidence that LSVT LOUD has a positive therapeutic effect on voice and speech in children with DS. We hope to conduct a larger treatment study and include a wider age-range of children and youth with DS.

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Making Intensive Voice Treatment (LSVT LOUD®) Accessible for a Child with Autism Spectrum Disorder

One key takeaway is that pre-treatment protocols can be designed and implemented to give children who are otherwise deemed unable to participate in LSVT LOUD a chance to train and prepare for the gold-standard protocol which may open the door to functional communication and the chance to have some control of their speech.

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Effects of an intensive voice treatment on articulatory function and speech intelligibility in children with motor speech disorders: A phase one study

Our results indicate that by focusing on a single target (healthy vocal loudness), clinicians may also observe positive therapeutic changes to articulatory function and intelligibility.

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Intensive speech therapy (LSVT LOUD) for clients with Down syndrome and cerebral palsy – one clinician’s experience.

“We started using the LOUD program with a teen and 4-year-old with Down syndrome. Both families reported their child to be easier to understand, more talkative, more fluent, and had multiple unsolicited feedback from teachers, friends, distant family members, and church acquaintances about these changes…” Read on to learn more.

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Improving Communication in Children with Cerebral Palsy

Children with cerebral palsy can have difficulties talking with their family and friends. We studied the effects of a novel intensive speech treatment in five children with cerebral palsy. Our results demonstrated a number of findings post-treatment. First, it showed that the children could tolerate the intensive treatment. Second, listeners rated speech samples of the children as louder, clearer and easier to understand. For most kids, these improvements were maintained six weeks after treatment. Parents also reported some improvements in speech outside of the treatment room.

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