How Childhood Maltreatment Shapes Brain Regions: Considerations for Speech-Language Pathology

Author

Alexa G. Sees, University of South DakotaFollow

Date of Award

Spring 4-16-2025

Document Type

Honors Thesis

Department/Major

Arts and Sciences

First Advisor

Elizabeth DeVelder

Second Advisor

Shelly Grinde

Third Advisor

Cynthia Struckman-Johnson

Keywords

Childhood Maltreatment, Speech-Language Pathology, Limbic System, Basal Ganglia, Corpus Callosum, Visual Cortex, Language

Subject Categories

Behavioral Neurobiology | Biological Psychology | Child Psychology | Developmental Psychology | Semantics and Pragmatics

Abstract

Childhood maltreatment is a pervasive issue that affects millions of children worldwide, leading to alterations in key structures such as the limbic system, basal ganglia, corpus callosum, visual cortex, and language areas. These changes result in significant cognitive, emotional, and neurological consequences, such as learning deficits, emotional regulation issues, memory problems, reduced vocabulary size, speech errors, etc. This thesis explores the neurological effects of childhood maltreatment and their implications for speech-language pathology, highlighting how maltreatment-induced brain changes affect areas within the scope of speech-language pathology, such as social communication, language development, and behavior management. These results underscore the importance of adopting trauma-informed care practices. Understanding these connections and implementing trauma-informed care is crucial for developing effective strategies to support maltreated children, ultimately improving their outcomes and quality of life.

Recommended Citation

Sees, Alexa G., "How Childhood Maltreatment Shapes Brain Regions: Considerations for Speech-Language Pathology" (2025). Honors Thesis. 372.
https://red.library.usd.edu/honors-thesis/372