Target Selection Considerations for Speech Sound Disorder Intervention in Schools

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (6) ◽  
pp. 1722-1734
Author(s):  
Shari L. DeVeney ◽  
Kathryn Cabbage ◽  
Theresa Mourey

Purpose Clinicians working with children who have speech sound disorders that involve multiple errors often prioritize particular errored sounds for intervention. However, this prioritization is not always an easy or clearly defined clinical decision, as there are many target selection considerations to weigh, some of which directly oppose one another. Conversely, sometimes there are multiple justified reasons to target a particular process or sound over others produced in error. Having a well-advised rationale regarding what sounds/sound classes to prioritize in treatment is a critical tenet of high-quality clinical service provision. Therefore, speech-language pathologists need to be mindful of differing rationales for prioritizing therapy targets and note that the same prioritization may not be appropriate for all children receiving therapy. Conclusions This clinical focus article provides an overview of a wide variety of pediatric target selection considerations (e.g., stimulability, complexity, frequency of occurrence, and interference with intelligibility) and offers clinicians theoretical and research-based rationales for each. Limitations and/or controversies that hamper practical clinical application of each target selection consideration are noted and described. Aspects in need of further research are highlighted. Additionally, through presentation of hypothetical case studies, the authors illustrate an individualized approach to target selection appropriate for a pediatric caseload.

Author(s):  
Lisa M. Furlong ◽  
Meg E. Morris ◽  
Tanya A. Serry ◽  
Shane Erickson

Purpose This study explored the intervention processes used by speech-language pathologists (SLPs) to treat children with speech sound disorders (SSDs). Method Semistructured, individual, in-depth interviews were conducted with 11 Australian SLPs. Inductive content analysis was used to classify the data to provide a description of current intervention processes for children with SSDs. Results Three main factors were identified relating to the intervention processes used by SLPs: (a) target selection, (b) therapy approaches, and (c) structural and procedural aspects of therapy sessions, including feedback. The findings revealed that SLPs often combine elements of four therapies: the minimal pairs approach, traditional articulatory approaches, auditory discrimination, and Cued Articulation. Initial therapy targets typically aligned with a developmental approach or were functional speech targets with meaningful relevance to the child and their family. Conclusions These findings contribute to the current state of knowledge about the intervention processes used by SLPs for children with SSDs. The use of hybrid speech pathology therapies, which combined elements of favored approaches, was common. Hybrid methods were intended to help tailor the interventions to individual needs. Client needs were highly prioritized by SLPs and influenced their choice of therapy targets and therapy approaches.


2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 1987-1996
Author(s):  
Sherine R. Tambyraja

Purpose This study investigated the extent to which speech-language pathologists (SLPs) facilitate parents' completion of homework activities for children with speech sound disorder (SSD). In addition, this study explored factors related to more consistent communication about homework completion and strategies considered particularly effective for supporting this element of parental involvement. Method Licensed SLPs serving at least one child with SSD were invited to participate in an online survey. Questions relevant to this study gathered information regarding (a) frequency of communication about homework distribution and follow-up, (b) demographic and workplace characteristics, and (c) an open-ended question about the specific strategies used to support parental involvement and completion of homework activities. Results Descriptive results indicated considerable variability with respect to how frequently SLPs engaged in communication about homework completion, but that school-based SLPs were significantly less likely to engage in this type of follow-up. Strategies considered effective, however, were similar across therapy contexts. Conclusion These results suggest potentially important differences between school-based services and therapy in other contexts with respect to this particular aspect of service provision for children with SSD.


2018 ◽  
Vol 61 (12) ◽  
pp. 3010-3022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janet Vuolo ◽  
Lisa Goffman

Purpose The aim of the study was to investigate the relationship between language load and articulatory variability in children with language and speech sound disorders, including childhood apraxia of speech. Method Forty-six children, ages 48–92 months, participated in the current study, including children with speech sound disorder, developmental language disorder (aka specific language impairment), childhood apraxia of speech, and typical development. Children imitated (low language load task) then retrieved (high language load task) agent + action phrases. Articulatory variability was quantified using speech kinematics. We assessed language status and speech status (typical vs. impaired) in relation to articulatory variability. Results All children showed increased articulatory variability in the retrieval task compared with the imitation task. However, only children with language impairment showed a disproportionate increase in articulatory variability in the retrieval task relative to peers with typical language skills. Conclusion Higher-level language processes affect lower-level speech motor control processes, and this relationship appears to be more strongly mediated by language than speech skill.


2017 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-77
Author(s):  
Ciara Baldwin ◽  
Fiona Gibbon

Objective: To investigate speech and language therapists’ current practice in the selection of intervention targets for children with speech sound disorders. Method: Questionnaires were used to elicit information from 88 speech and language therapists working in the Republic of Ireland about their selection of intervention targets in the treatment of speech sound disorders. Main results: The majority (73%) of therapists placed a high priority on selecting stimulable sounds as intervention targets. Around half (52%) placed a high priority on earlier developing sounds with a minority prioritizing later developing sounds (10%) and non-stimulable sounds (14%). Speech and language therapists’ years of experience did not have a significant impact on their selection practices. However, the amount of continuing professional development a speech and language therapist had in the area of speech sound disorders did have a significant effect on target selection. Conclusion: The speech and language therapists in this study used clinical experience and traditional practices, such as stimulability, to select intervention targets in the treatment of speech sound disorders. However, there is research evidence to show that the selection of non-traditional intervention targets, such as non-stimulable and later developing sounds, can result in more system-wide generalisation. Speech and language therapists may benefit from increasing their knowledge about current theories and intervention research relevant to target selection.


2016 ◽  
Vol 7 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 456
Author(s):  
Omid Mohamadi ◽  
Mohammad Rahimi-Madiseh ◽  
Morteza Sedehi

<p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 24pt 36pt;"><span style="color: #131413; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: medium;">The inability to communicate easily and clearly can have far-reaching debilitating effects, not only in childhood, but throughout a lifetime. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of stuttering, voice disorder, and speech sound disorders in Persian preschoolers in Shahrekord, Iran. Information about 1,387 children ages 5 to 6 was obtained via face-to-face screening and assessment. The total prevalence of speech disorders was 17.1%. The prevalence of stuttering was 1.5%, while 13.4% had a speech sound disorder, and 2.2% had voice disorder. The prevalence of stuttering was higher in males (2.2%) than females (0.7%); of speech sound disorders was higher in males (17.4%) than females (9.1%); and of voice disorder was higher in males (2.6%) than females (1.6%). The prevalence of stuttering and speech sound disorder was significantly different according to gender and positive family history. The prevalence figures revealed that a considerable number of preschoolers with speech disorders were missed in parents’ and teachers’ reports. Those children required more intensive communication support than they were receiving. Therefore, classroom teachers should work with speech and language pathologists to identify and assess preschoolers with communication disorders, and to develop intervention strategies.</span></p>


2019 ◽  
Vol 62 (9) ◽  
pp. 3276-3289 ◽  
Author(s):  
Françoise Brosseau-Lapré ◽  
Elizabeth Roepke

Purpose The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between types of speech errors produced by children with speech sound disorders (SSD) and children with typical speech and language development (TD) and phonological awareness (PA) skills. Method Participants were 40 children, half with SSD and half with TD, ages 4 and 5 years. They completed standard speech, language, and PA tests as well as produced single words varying in length from 1 to 5 syllables. Production of each consonant was classified as either correct production, omission, substitution, and distortion; errors were also classified as typical or atypical. Results The children with SSD produced similar proportions of each type of speech errors in mono-, di-, and multisyllabic words. In contrast, the children with TD produced much lower, but not significantly different, proportions of omissions, substitutions, distortions, and typical speech errors at each word length. They produced no atypical errors in monosyllabic words and were significantly more likely to produce them in multisyllabic words. Proportions of omissions and atypical speech errors were significantly correlated with PA performance. Variance in PA skills was predicted partly by vocabulary, language skills, and age; omissions accounted for an additional 5% of variance in PA. Other types of speech errors did not account for additional significant variance in PA performance. Conclusions Poorer PA skills were found to be associated with omissions and atypical speech errors. Research is required to investigate the potential of omission and atypical error use in predicting which children are likely to receive diagnoses of SSD and later literacy difficulties.


2016 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 57-65 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Sosa

The interaction between lexical and phonological development has been the focus of a growing body of research. Findings suggest that phonological ability influences word learning and that certain characteristics of words influence how words are produced by children. This article summarizes research findings regarding the effects of word frequency, phonological neighborhood density (PND), and phonotactic probability (PP) on phonological development, and describes how these factors have been manipulated to influence phonological learning in the treatment of speech sound disorder in children. Clinical applications and ideas for considering lexical factors in the selection of target words for treatment are provided.


Author(s):  
Sue Grogan-Johnson ◽  
Rodney M. Gabel ◽  
Jacquelyn Taylor ◽  
Lynne E. Rowan ◽  
Robin Alvares ◽  
...  

This article describes a school-based telehealth service delivery model and reports outcomes made by school-age students with speech sound disorders in a rural Ohio school district. Speech therapy using computer-based speech sound intervention materials was provided either by live interactive videoconferencing (telehealth), or conventional side-by-side intervention.  Progress was measured using pre- and post-intervention scores on the Goldman Fristoe Test of Articulation-2 (Goldman & Fristoe, 2002). Students in both service delivery models made significant improvements in speech sound production, with students in the telehealth condition demonstrating greater mastery of their Individual Education Plan (IEP) goals. Live interactive videoconferencing thus appears to be a viable method for delivering intervention for speech sound disorders to children in a rural, public school setting. Keywords:  Telehealth, telerehabilitation, videoconferencing, speech sound disorder, speech therapy, speech-language pathology; E-Helper


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