A child exhibiting open mouth posture and slight tongue protrusion may indicate which speech development issue?

A child exhibiting open mouth posture and slight tongue protrusion may indicate which speech development issue?

• A. Articulation disorder
• B. Developmental apraxia
• C. Receptive language delay
• D. Oral motor deficits

Answer: (B)

The presence of open mouth posture and slight tongue protrusion in a child can be indicative of oral motor deficits. When a child displays these traits, it often suggests difficulties in the ability to control and coordinate the oral structures needed for speech production. Oral motor skill challenges can significantly affect articulation and overall speech clarity, as these skills are fundamental to producing sounds and words correctly. In the context of developmental apraxia, children may have difficulty planning and executing the movements required for speech due to issues with motor coordination rather than muscle weakness or paralysis. While some signs of apraxia can overlap with oral motor deficits, open mouth posture and tongue protrusion do not specifically point to planning difficulties in speech movements typical of developmental apraxia. The other options, such as articulation disorders and receptive language delay, do not closely align with the physical markers presented. Articulation disorders generally refer to the clarity of speech sounds rather than postural aspects, and receptive language delay focuses on understanding language rather than the physical aspects of speech production. Thus, the characteristics described relate most directly to oral motor deficits, positioning it as the most pertinent answer reflecting the child’s speech development issue.

The presence of open mouth posture and slight tongue protrusion in a child can be indicative of oral motor deficits. When a child displays these traits, it often suggests difficulties in the ability to control and coordinate the oral structures needed for speech production. Oral motor skill challenges can significantly affect articulation and overall speech clarity, as these skills are fundamental to producing sounds and words correctly.

In the context of developmental apraxia, children may have difficulty planning and executing the movements required for speech due to issues with motor coordination rather than muscle weakness or paralysis. While some signs of apraxia can overlap with oral motor deficits, open mouth posture and tongue protrusion do not specifically point to planning difficulties in speech movements typical of developmental apraxia.

The other options, such as articulation disorders and receptive language delay, do not closely align with the physical markers presented. Articulation disorders generally refer to the clarity of speech sounds rather than postural aspects, and receptive language delay focuses on understanding language rather than the physical aspects of speech production. Thus, the characteristics described relate most directly to oral motor deficits, positioning it as the most pertinent answer reflecting the child’s speech development issue.