Date of Award
2017
Degree Type
Selective Evidence-Based Medicine Review
Degree Name
Master of Science in Health Sciences - Physician Assistant
Department
Physician Assistant Studies
Department Chair
John Cavenagh, MBA, PhD, PA-C
Abstract
Objective: The objective of this EBM review was to determine if increasing speech production & language acquisition through therapies which emphasized speech therapy, would improve verbal communication skills in autistic individuals.
Study Design: Three RCTs selected due to relevance to the proposed question and fulfillment of the requirement of measuring POEMs.
Data Sources: All articles were published in peer-reviewed journals via PubMed.
Outcome Measures: The Preschool Language Scale 4 and Comprehensive Assessment of Spoken Language was measured pre-intervention and 12 months later. The verbal production evaluation scale which measured phonology, pragmatics, prosody, and sematic features. The number of verbal attempts, correct words used (list of target words assessed at baseline and beginning of each treatment week for reassessment).
Results: The results from Casenhiser et al. demonstrated that language development improved with the intervention group (MEHRIT therapy). The mean changes from pretest was 0.61 w/SD of 0.32.1 Post treatment was a mean of 0.72 w/SD of 0.39. The MEHRIT group had p=0.038.1 Lim et al. examined the speech therapy group to a music therapy group and control. The change in score of speech production pre-post test was a mean of +65.33, SD 56.89. Comparing speech vs control had a mean difference of 64.405, SD 12.973. When comparing speech to no treatment the p value was
Conclusions: Although inconclusive, there was improvement in communication skills gained through the 3 RCTs above suggesting that early intervention and speech therapy is critical to development.
Recommended Citation
Olejnik, Jessica, "Does Increasing Speech Production and Language Acquisition Through Therapies Aimed At Emphasizing Speech Therapy Improve the Verbal Communication Capabilities in Autistic Children?" (2017). PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship. 426.
https://digitalcommons.pcom.edu/pa_systematic_reviews/426