Speech/ Language Disorders and Motor Delays

Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology published a study comparing the gross motor skills of 6-9 year old children with speech and language problems (n=105) with typical developing children (n=105). Using the Test of Gross Motor Proficiency Edition 2, the children were evaluated in 4 groups: those with speech disorders, those with language disorders, those with both and typically developing peers. The results indicated that all three subgroups with speech and language disorders scored lower on the locomotor and object control portions of the test. The scores on the test improved with age for the children with speech and language disorders but the scores were still behind their typically developing peers. The researchers recommend early diagnosis and intervention for children with speech and language disorders.

Reference: CHRIS VISSCHER et al Motor proficiency of 6- to 9-year-old children with speech and language problems Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology
Volume 52, Issue 11, pages e254–e258, November 2010