THE IMPACT OF MOTOR DEVELOPMENT ON SPEECH DEVELOPMENT IN CHILDREN WITH DYSARTHRIA

Abstract

Dysarthria is a neurological motor speech disorder that results from impairments in the central or peripheral nervous system. The disorder affects the muscles involved in speech production, including the lips, tongue, jaw, vocal folds, and respiratory muscles. As a result, children with dysarthria often experience reduced speech intelligibility, articulation difficulties, abnormal voice quality, and impaired communication skills. Recent studies emphasize the close relationship between motor development and speech development, suggesting that motor impairments significantly influence communicative competence. The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of motor development on speech development in children with dysarthria. Particular attention is given to gross motor skills, fine motor abilities, oral motor functioning, and their contribution to speech production. The study synthesizes contemporary theoretical and empirical evidence regarding motor-speech interactions and discusses implications for assessment and intervention. Findings indicate that delays in motor development negatively affect speech acquisition and communicative performance. Integrated intervention approaches targeting both motor and speech functions may significantly improve developmental outcomes for children with dysarthria