Electropalatographic Therapy and Speech Production for Children With Down Syndrome

Abstract

Purpose Children with Down syndrome (DS) demonstrate speech sound disorders, which impact speech intelligibility in academic and social settings across the life span. The purpose of this technical report is to determine the effects of electropalatographic (EPG) therapy on speech productions for children with DS receiving school-based speech-language therapy services. EPG is a form of visual feedback that displays timing and location of the tongue's contact with the palate during productions of individual phonemes. Method Authors completed a comprehensive literature search to locate articles that investigated the treatment effects of EPG for children with DS. Using the PICO (population, intervention, control, and outcomes) format, we sought in the research to answer “Do children 3–18 years of age with Down syndrome (P), who receive EPG therapy (I) compared to same-age peers with Down syndrome who do not receive EPG therapy (C) show improvement on speech sound production (O)?” Results Three studies met the inclusion criteria and were critically appraised. Two studies were single-subject designs, and one study was a randomized controlled study. Results revealed that EPG therapy improved speech sound production of target phonemes (/s/, /ʃ/, /k/, and /g/) with no transfer to speech intelligibility. Conclusions The results may further the understanding of EPG therapy as a treatment approach, particularly in older individuals with DS receiving school-based speech-language therapy services. Prior to adopting EPG as a treatment approach, clinicians should consider treatment intensity and students' cognitive abilities. Additional research is needed on the long-term effects and generalization of EPG therapy.