Developmental Verbal Dyspraxia: A Clinical Perspective

Abstract

The charts of 40 children ages 4;0 through 9;11 who had articulation disorders were reviewed for symptoms of developmental verbal dyspraxia (DVD). Abnormalities of syllable production such as inaccuracy, reduced rate and poor sequencing were considered necessary to diagnose DVD. Four of the other eight symptoms needed to be present to be sufficient for DVD diagnosis. Three groups of children were identified. Group 1 had little or no syllable production problems; Group 2 had moderate syallable production problems; Group 3 had severe syllable production problems. The 15 children with severe abnormalities in syllable production (group 3) were much more likely to have DVD symptoms than children with little or no syllable production problems (group 1). Non-verbal oral motor problems were present in only 9% of group 1 children and in 60% of group 3 children. For delayed onset of sentence formulation the percents were 9% and 47%; for severe articulation disorders 9% and 40%; for soft neurological signs 18% and 3...