Retesting with the C-BiLLT: What makes the difference? A follow up study for comprehension of spoken language in children with Cerebral Palsy

Abstract

Objective This paper describes a follow up study of comprehension of spoken language in children with severe cerebral palsy (CP). The research questions were 1) Does level of spoken language comprehension develop over the years in children with severe CP and is the C-BiLLT is able to detect changes in level of comprehension of spoken language in children with CP after two years? 2) Which factors influence the development of comprehension of spoken language in children with severe CP?

Methods To measure level of spoken language comprehension, two assessments of the Computer Based Instrument for Low Motor Testing (C-BiLLT) were performed with an interval of two years in 26 children with severe CP (mean age 84 months, age range 19 months to 181 months, 11 spastic CP, 15 dyskinetic CP). To acquire information about factors that could have influenced the level of spoken language comprehension, a survey was distributed to both parents and speech and language therapists of the participants. A regression analysis is used to answer the research question.

Results The results are Age Group (t = 1,001, sig. 328 ), Type of CP (t = 1,306, sig. ,206), Comprehension Aim (-,601, sig. ,555) Communication Device (t= 1,135, sig ,269). Although the results were not significant, the type of CP explained most of the variance, along with the use of a speech generating communication device and the age of the participants. Whether or not the aim of the speech and language therapy was to improve the comprehension of spoken language explained the least of the variance. Implications of this study and recommendations for further research are discussed.