This research aims to identify genes that influence speech sound disorder (SSD) by applying a newly available approach to gene discovery, next-generation exome sequencing followed by bioinformatic gene filtering. Children with SSD have difficulty producing speech that is readily understood by others, in the absence of known causes. There is evidence that SSD is highly heritable, but the causal genes are not yet known. Recent studies in child sib pairs with SSD from many families have confirmed a number of candidate regions, but there is evidence that SSD can result from different genes in different families. To advance our knowledge, the common disease/rare variant (CDRV) model is an alternative framework for gene identification, using approaches that focus on only one genetic mechanism at a time. Recent insights from speech studies in adults who had SSD during childhood, coupled with an exome-based gene discovery approach, now make it possible to identify causal genes in single extended multigenerational families. The proposed research will identify up to two such families with evidence of single-gene inheritance of SSD, in addition to those already ascertained in a current pilot project. Phenotyping and statistical modeling will provide an estimate of the mode of inheritance of SSD and characterize associated traits in each family. Three distantly related, affected members will be selected for exome sequencing in each family. Exomic nucleotide sequences will be filtered to a core of candidate genes with novel nonsynonymous variants that are maximally shared by the sequenced exomes and fit the estimated mode of inheritance in terms of copy numbers. If more than one candidate gene per family remains, the one with the highest locus and/or functional plausibility will be selected for validation in affected and unaffected controls. This research has the realistic potential to identify single or major genes associated with SSD for the first time and provide the basis for future studies investigating other SSD variants and, by extension, other communication and neuro-developmental disorders with a CDRV pattern, all with substantially higher efficiency and lower cost than previously possible. Results will flow into a larger research endeavor to identify other rare variants in families with SSD and create a biologically based SSD subtype classification.

Public Health Relevance

This project applies a newly developed approach in medical genetics, exome-based gene discovery, toward identifying the causative gene(s) in familial speech sound disorder. The findings will contribute to a better understanding of the genetic basis of familial speech sound disorder and also introduce a new model of methods for gene discovery in other familial communication and, by extension, neurodevelopmental disorders. This work is directly relevant to public health because an improved understanding of the biologic causes of speech sound disorder and other communication disorders creates a biologically based subtype classification, leads to more accurate diagnoses, facilitates early identification of children at risk, and motivates new research questions about intervention including early intervention.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)
Type
Small Research Grants (R03)
Project #
1R03DC010886-01A1
Application #
8106056
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZDC1-SRB-R (39))
Program Officer
Shekim, Lana O
Project Start
2011-04-01
Project End
2014-03-30
Budget Start
2011-04-01
Budget End
2012-03-31
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2011
Total Cost
$156,000
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Washington
Department
Other Health Professions
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
605799469
City
Seattle
State
WA
Country
United States
Zip Code
98195
Peter, Beate; Lancaster, Hope; Vose, Caitlin et al. (2018) Sequential processing deficit as a shared persisting biomarker in dyslexia and childhood apraxia of speech. Clin Linguist Phon 32:316-346
Peter, Beate; Wijsman, Ellen M; Nato Jr, Alejandro Q et al. (2016) Genetic Candidate Variants in Two Multigenerational Families with Childhood Apraxia of Speech. PLoS One 11:e0153864
Peter, Beate; Foster, Bronsyn; Haas, Heather et al. (2015) Direct and octave-shifted pitch matching during nonword imitations in men, women, and children. J Voice 29:260.e21-30
Peter, Beate; Matsushita, Mark; Oda, Kaori et al. (2014) De novo microdeletion of BCL11A is associated with severe speech sound disorder. Am J Med Genet A 164A:2091-6
Button, Le; Peter, Beate; Stoel-Gammon, Carol et al. (2013) Associations among measures of sequential processing in motor and linguistics tasks in adults with and without a family history of childhood apraxia of speech: a replication study. Clin Linguist Phon 27:192-212
Peter, Beate; Button, Le; Stoel-Gammon, Carol et al. (2013) Deficits in sequential processing manifest in motor and linguistic tasks in a multigenerational family with childhood apraxia of speech. Clin Linguist Phon 27:163-91
Raskind, Wendy H; Peter, Beate; Richards, Todd et al. (2012) The genetics of reading disabilities: from phenotypes to candidate genes. Front Psychol 3:601
Peter, Beate (2012) Oral and hand movement speeds are associated with expressive language ability in children with speech sound disorder. J Psycholinguist Res 41:455-74
Peter, Beate; Matsushita, Mark; Raskind, Wendy H (2012) Motor sequencing deficit as an endophenotype of speech sound disorder: a genome-wide linkage analysis in a multigenerational family. Psychiatr Genet 22:226-34