Differential language outcomes in children following treatment for posterior fossa tumours

The Impact of a Cerebellar Tumour on Language Function in Childhood

“…Although the presence of co-occurring hydrocephalus may have contributed to findings of reduced problem solving in the second case examined, an obvious effect on language function was not demonstrated by the 2 additional cases with this feature (cases 3,4). This is despite reports of associated language disturbances in patients with hydrocephalus [6,17,23,[33][34][35][36][37] . An additional factor contributing to the lack of findings in 2 of the 4 cases observed may lie with the possibility that present surgical intervention procedures in childhood cerebellar tumour patients have included less aggressive attempts at tumour removal, particularly in cases where the tumour is identified to be less aggressive.…”

“…Surprisingly, unlike neuropsychological effects that have been related to childhood radiation treatment of brain tumour, communication disorders have generally not been commonly linked to radiotherapy [6][7][8]26] . The one documented study that identified a possible connection reported language impairments inclusive of deficits in word finding, syntax and reading [8] .…”

“…Results from the group of hemispheric patients also reportedly confirmed the dissociation of the circuits connecting the cerebellum to the supratentorial associative areas through the thalamus [3] . Specific high-level language deficits, global impairment, and expressive language and syntax were also acknowledged among others to be related to direct impact of cerebellar damage [6][7][8] .…”

Perceptual analysis of speech following traumatic brain injury in childhood

“…In contrast to these findings from the TBI population, studies of the perceptual speech disturbances of children with PFT have largely failed to identify impaired breath support for speech as a common feature in this group [5,22,57,67,68]. However, Murdoch and Hudson-Tennent [68], in their study of five children with dysarthria resulting from treatment of a PFT, used instrumental measures to identify irregularities in chest wall movements, and a high incidence of slope changes and paradoxical movements of the chest wall, in the absence of any perceived impairment of breath support for speech.…”

“…However, Murdoch and Hudson-Tennent [68], in their study of five children with dysarthria resulting from treatment of a PFT, used instrumental measures to identify irregularities in chest wall movements, and a high incidence of slope changes and paradoxical movements of the chest wall, in the absence of any perceived impairment of breath support for speech. These authors suggested that it was likely that the respiratory impairment noted instrumentally might have contributed to the prosodic, phonatory and articulatory disturbances noted in these children.…”