If you assess motor speech, I highly recommend that you check out the Colorado Motor Speech Framework (CMSF). The CMSF is a free tool that makes motor speech evaluations easier and more accurate. In this blog post, I will share eight specific tips for using the CMSF to assess motor speech.
Free DIRECT download: 8 tips for using the CMSF – cheat sheet. (Email subscribers get free access to all the resources in the Free Subscription Library.)
Outline:
- Where did the CMSF come from?
- Describe the CMSF.
- 8 tips for using the CMSF.
- What my short video overview of the CMSF.
- Listen to an interview with Dr. Hilger.
- What new features are coming?
- What tips do you have for using the CMSF?
- Related Eat, Speak, & Think posts.
Where did the CMSF come from?
The Colorado Motor Speech Framework (CMSF) was designed by Dr. Allison Hilger and two acute-care SLPs who worked in her lab (Kylie Dunne-Platero and Caitlin Cloud).
While we know a lot about motor speech disorders, it’s not easy to do differential diagnosis during evaluations in a busy setting. I know I’ve spent a lot of time poring through Joseph Duffy’s textbook over the years.
Dr. Hilger, Kylie, and Caitlin worked together to design an interactive tool to simplify this process.
Describe the CMSF
The CMSF is an online, interactive table that is pretty intuitive. Structures and functions are listed down the left-hand column, organized by groups of related characteristics. Hover over the blue “i” in each “group” box to see a list of suggested assessment tasks. In order to see definitions of the characteristics, hover over the blue “i” beside each characteristic.
The dysarthria subtypes and apraxia of speech (AOS) are listed across the top of the table, organized by neural impairment.
The table is pre-populated with symbols. A single X means the characteristic is a common feature. A double X means it is a highly distinguishing feature. A dash means it’s an unexpected feature. There are also clarifying notes.
There is a box at the bottom where you can add self-report and qualitative information. Specifically, you can ask the patient to rate their own speech, then you can judge their intelligibility, naturalness, and efficiency.
This is important because we know that the objective measurement of an impairment does not correlate with how impaired a person feels they are. We can use this information to establish person-centered goals and outcome measures.
8 tips for using the CMSF
- Use the online version of the tool during assessments. Be sure to save as a PDF before navigating away. The site does not save or store any information you enter.
- If you can’t use the online tool during assessments, you could:
- Download the clickable Excel sheet.
- Print out the PDF version of the CMSF.
- Flexible assessment tasks. Use your own assessment tasks or their suggested tasks. Simply hover over the blue “i” in each “groups” box to see suggested tasks. The tasks are included in the Excel and PDF versions, as well.
- Tailor the test for the patient you are assessing. You don’t have to assess every possible characteristic.
- Check the “Y/N” box for every characteristic that you observe.
- Hide unchecked rows when you are done with the assessment. You’ll find the button underneath the main table.
- Fill out the qualitative data box near the bottom. The patient’s self-rating and your judgment of intelligibility, naturalness, and efficiency provide rich possibilities for person-centered goals and outcome measures.
- Use the feature count table at the bottom of the page to find which motor speech impairment(s) have the most highly distinguishing features. There may be a clear-cut candidate, or there may be evidence for a mixed dysarthria. It is perfectly acceptable to describe our findings without trying to make a concrete determination.
Watch my short video overview of the CMSF
Listen to an interview with Dr. Hilger
- Listen to an interview with the creator of the CMSF on the Speech Scope podcast (episode 18) on YouTube: https://youtu.be/KTkMsoMvrMc.
- You can also find the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other podcast platforms.
You can earn continuing education credit for the Speech Scope interview if you have a subscription with Medbridge.
If you don’t have a subscription yet, please consider using my affiliate link to sign up*. You would be supporting my work by earning me a commission with no extra cost to you. (Plus, you get a discount.)
*As an affiliate of Medbridge, I may earn a small commission on qualifying new subscriptions. There is no extra charge to you, and it will help keep Eat, Speak, & Think sustainable.
What new features are coming?
Dr. Hilger mentioned in her interview on the Speech Scope podcast that they are building a library of speech samples. She also mentioned that they are researching the CMSF with the pediatric population.
What tips do you have for using the CMSF?
If you’ve tried out the CMSF, please share your thoughts in the comments below. Did you find it useful? Do you have any tips to share?
Related Eat, Speak, & Think posts
- How to document a skilled dysarthria session.
- Tips for dynamic speech assessment.
- What SLPs should know about treating PPA and PPAOS.
Featured image by Erik Mclean from Pexels, found on Canva.com.
Free DIRECT download: 8 tips for using the CMSF – cheat sheet. (Email subscribers get free access to all the resources in the Free Subscription Library.)
Lisa earned her M.A. in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Maryland, College Park and her M.A. in Linguistics from the University of California, San Diego.
She participated in research studies with the National Institute on Deafness and other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) and the University of Maryland in the areas of aphasia, Parkinson’s Disease, epilepsy, and fluency disorders.
Lisa has been working as a medical speech-language pathologist since 2008. She has a strong passion for evidence-based assessment and therapy, having earned five ASHA Awards for Professional Participation in Continuing Education.
She launched EatSpeakThink.com in June 2018 to help other clinicians be more successful working in home health, as well as to provide strategies and resources to people living with problems eating, speaking, or thinking.
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