Functional MRI evidence for fine motor praxis dysfunction in children with persistent speech disorders

Abstract

Children with persistent speech disorders (PSD) often present with overt or subtle motor deficits; the possibility that speech disorders and motor deficits could arise from a shared neurological base is currently unknown. Functional MRI (fMRI) was used to examine the brain networks supporting fine motor praxis in children with PSD and without clinically identified fine motor deficits. Methods This case-control study included 12 children with PSD (mean age 7.42 years, 4 female) and 12 controls (mean age 7.44 years, 4 female). Children completed behavioral evaluations using standardized motor assessments and parent reported functional measures. During fMRI scanning, participants completed a cued finger tapping task contrasted passive listening. A general linear model approach identified brain regions associated with finger tapping in each group and regions that differed between groups. The relationship between regional fMRI activation and fine motor skill was assessed using a regression analysis. Results Children with PSD had significantly poorer results for rapid speech production and fine motor praxis skills, but did not differ on classroom functional skills. Functional MRI results showed that children with PSD had significantly more activation in the cerebellum during finger tapping. Positive correlations between performance on a fine motor praxis test and activation multiple cortical regions were noted for children with PSD but not for controls. Conclusions Over-activation in the cerebellum during a motor task may reflect a subtle abnormality in the non-speech motor neural circuitry in children with PSD.

Atypical speech lateralization in adults with developmental coordination disorder demonstrated using functional transcranial Doppler ultrasound

“…A shortened 9‐item version (Bilker et al ., ) of the Ravens Standard Progressive Matrices (RSPM) test (Raven, Raven, & Court, ) was included as a measure of general cognitive ability to ensure comparability between the patient and control groups. Bilker et al .…”

“…Developmental studies of the relationship between speech and motor function demonstrate differences in fine motor skill abilities in children with speech deficits (Visscher, Houwen, Scherder, Moolenaar, & Hartman, ), as well as increases in bilateral cortical activation patterns underlying fine motor control in children with persistent speech disorder (Redle et al ., ) compared with controls. Furthermore, recent data from epilepsy patients demonstrate that the language‐dominant hemisphere can be identified and predicted by the differential motor performance between the preferred and non‐preferred hand on a peg‐moving task (Flowers & Hudson, ).…”

Potentials of speech disorders correction in 4-6 yrs children by means of ergo and art therapy

“…After entering preschool establishments, such children are enlisted in general group. It should be noted that children with speech disorders often suffer from deficit of fine motor skills [23][24][25]29]. In other work arttherapy positive influence on adaptation of schoolchildren, living in stress conditions, was determined [16].…”

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“…In the course of studies we have found that psychomotor development of children with mental and physical disorders was due to their retardation in all parameters as compared to the normative ones (Gvozdec'ka, 2005, Shmaley, 2007Yefymenko, 2012;Hlushchenko, 2013;Petrenko, 2016), which leads in its turn to the functional dysfunction of certain physiological systems. The authors managed to supplement the studies on the deviations in the development of speed and simultaneity of movements in children with psychophysical disorders, as well as fine movements development in mentally and physically disabled children (Gvozdec'ka, 2005;Stebliy, 2008;Korovyna, 2010;Redle, 2015).…”