Effects of integral stimulation therapy on speech - Portland State ...

Literature Review
The differential diagnosis and treatment <strong>of</strong> individuals affected by childhood
apraxia <strong>of</strong> speech (CAS) has long been a source <strong>of</strong> debate for speech-language
pathologists. Speech-language pr<strong>of</strong>essionals have found the prospect <strong>of</strong> providing
efficacious and defined treatment methods for communication disorders such as CAS a
challenging and <strong>of</strong>ten confusing task. Given the suspected disorder’s undefined
diagnostic markers, shared features with other disorders, and variable course <strong>of</strong>
development, effective diagnosis, treatment, and research explorations <strong>of</strong> CAS have
proven difficult at best. However, ethical standards within the field <strong>of</strong> speech-language
pathology require clinicians to provide intervention that is consistent with the individual
needs, skills, and preferences <strong>of</strong> their client. Clinicians are expected to provide services
that draw from their own clinical expertise and theoretical perspectives as well as from
high-quality research sources. The ethical obligation for the use <strong>of</strong> evidence-based
practice by those in the field <strong>of</strong> communication sciences has ignited an interest in
establishing diagnostic markers for CAS and identifying efficacious treatment methods
(ASHA, 2007). This literature review is intended to present its readers with estimates <strong>of</strong>
prevalence <strong>of</strong> CAS, its speech characteristics, suspected etiologies, and various treatment
options according to standards <strong>of</strong> evidence-based practice. Theories <strong>of</strong> cognitive motor
learning will be explored as they relate to the application and efficacy <strong>of</strong> treating motor
planning disorders using <strong>integral</strong> <strong>stimulation</strong>.
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