A Pilot Single-Case Experimental Design Study of Rapid Syllable Transition Treatment for Italian Children With Childhood Apraxia of Speech

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-15
Author(s):  
Ilaria Scarcella ◽  
Letizia Michelazzo ◽  
Patricia McCabe
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Design ◽  
Single Case ◽  
Lexical Stress ◽  
Effect Sizes ◽  
Apraxia Of Speech ◽  
Childhood Apraxia Of Speech ◽  
Treatment Results ◽  
Italian Children ◽  
Treatment Procedures ◽  
Stress Patterns

Background The Rapid Syllable Transition (ReST) treatment is an effective intervention designed to address the planning and programming disorder found in childhood apraxia of speech. To date, no study has considered its use with children who speak languages other than English. Aim This pilot study aimed to examine the use of ReST treatment with Italian children. We hypothesized that the ReST approach would improve the overall accuracy of the targeted behaviors of lexical stress, smoothness, and phonemic accuracy, whereas phonemic and phonetic accuracy of untreated items would remain stable. Method Two monolingual Italian-speaking children with childhood apraxia of speech received therapy in 12 one-hour sessions, 2–3 times per week, using a single-case experimental design. The treatment procedures used in English were replicated in Italian with one change: In English, two stress patterns are treated. Italian commonly uses three stress patterns; therefore, the stimuli were modified accordingly. Accuracy of articulation, lexical stress, and smoothness were assessed at pretreatment and 1 day, 1 week, and 4 months posttreatment in treated and untreated pseudowords and in real words and sentences. Results Both children improved on treated pseudowords and real words with moderate effect sizes, but only one child generalized to untreated pseudowords. Maintenance of treatment results was observed in both participants. Articulation of control phonemes did not change. Conclusions ReST treatment in Italian is feasible, and a treatment effect was found, showing that its use may be valid in languages other than English. Further research is required. Supplemental Material https://doi.org/10.1044/2021_AJSLP-20-00133

Bang for Your Buck: A Single-Case Experimental Design Study of Practice Amount and Distribution in Treatment for Childhood Apraxia of Speech

2019 ◽  
Vol 62 (9) ◽  
pp. 3160-3182 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edwin Maas ◽  
Christina Gildersleeve-Neumann ◽  
Kathy Jakielski ◽  
Nicolette Kovacs ◽  
Ruth Stoeckel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Single Case ◽  
Evidence Base ◽  
Distributed Practice ◽  
Single Subject ◽  
Single Subject Design ◽  
Apraxia Of Speech ◽  
Childhood Apraxia Of Speech ◽  
Opposite Pattern ◽  
Massed Practice ◽  
Treatment Conditions

Purpose The aim of this study was to examine 2 aspects of treatment intensity in treatment for childhood apraxia of speech (CAS): practice amount and practice distribution. Method Using an alternating-treatments single-subject design with multiple baselines, we compared high versus low amount of practice, and massed versus distributed practice, in 6 children with CAS. Conditions were manipulated in the context of integral stimulation treatment. Changes in perceptual accuracy, scored by blinded analysts, were quantified with effect sizes. Results Four children showed an advantage for high amount of practice, 1 showed an opposite effect, and 1 showed no condition difference. For distribution, 4 children showed a clear advantage for massed over distributed practice post treatment; 1 showed an opposite pattern, and 1 showed no clear difference. Follow-up revealed a similar pattern. All children demonstrated treatment effects (larger gains for treated than untreated items). Conclusions High practice amount and massed practice were associated with more robust speech motor learning in most children with CAS, compared to low amount and distributed practice, respectively. Variation in effects across children warrants further research to determine factors that predict optimal treatment conditions. Finally, this study adds to the evidence base supporting the efficacy of integral stimulation treatment for CAS. Supplemental Material https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.9630599

Shared Interactive Book Reading Interventions for Young Children With Disabilities: A Systematic Review

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-16
Author(s):  
Jacqueline A. Towson ◽  
Yusuf Akemoglu ◽  
Laci Watkins ◽  
Songtian Zeng
Keyword(s):  
Developmental Disabilities ◽  
Experimental Design ◽  
Young Children ◽  
Language Skills ◽  
Single Case ◽  
Effect Sizes ◽  
Book Reading ◽  
Design Studies ◽  
Group Design ◽  
Children With Developmental Disabilities

Purpose Shared interactive book reading (SIBR) is an evidence-based practice for young children who are typically developing and those with developmental disabilities or considered at risk for developmental delays. The purpose of this review was to provide a comprehensive examination of the evidence of using SIBR to facilitate growth in language skills for young children with developmental disabilities and/or delays. Specifically, authors examined the descriptive characteristics, study rigor, and effect sizes for language and literacy outcomes. Method We extracted data from studies meeting specified criteria ( n = 23) published in peer-reviewed journals on a wide range of variables, including participant characteristics, setting, training/coaching, defined independent and dependent variables, study rigor, and overall outcomes. Descriptive and study rigor data were aggregated using descriptive statistics. Effect-size estimates were calculated for all child outcomes related to language. Results Descriptive data were variable across studies. Three single-case experimental design and three group design studies met design standards without reservations. Single-case experimental design studies overall showed positive effects on child language and communication. Within group design studies, expressive language outcomes showed the largest effect sizes. Conclusion A review of SIBR studies indicates this as a viable intervention to positively impact the language skills of young children with developmental disabilities and/or delays. Supplemental Material https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.16674355

scholarly journals Model-Driven Treatment of Childhood Apraxia of Speech: Positive Effects of the Speech Motor Learning Approach

2018 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-51 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anita van der Merwe ◽  
Mollie Steyn
Keyword(s):  
Motor Learning ◽  
Speech Errors ◽  
Effect Sizes ◽  
Learning Approach ◽  
Apraxia Of Speech ◽  
Childhood Apraxia Of Speech ◽  
Age Appropriate ◽  
Speech Motor Learning ◽  
Whole Word ◽  
Speech Motor

Purpose The aim of the study was to propose the speech motor learning approach (Van der Merwe, 2011) as a treatment for childhood apraxia of speech and to determine if it will effect positive change in the ability of a 33-month-old child to produce untreated nonwords and words containing treated age-appropriate consonants (Set 1 sounds), untreated age-appropriate consonants (Set 2), and untreated age-inappropriate consonants (Set 3) and also to determine the nature and number of segmental speech errors before and after treatment. Method An A-B design with multiple target measures and follow-up was implemented to assess the effects of treatment of Set 1. Effect sizes for whole-word accuracy were determined, and two criterion lines were generated following the conservative dual criterion method. Speech errors were judged perceptually. Results Conservative dual criterion analyses indicated no reliable treatment effect due to rising baseline scores. Effect sizes showed significant improvement in whole-word accuracy of untreated nonwords and real words containing age-appropriate treated sounds and real words containing age-appropriate untreated sounds. The number of errors for all three sound sets declined. Sound distortion was the most frequent error type. Conclusions Preliminary evidence suggests potentially positive treatment effects. However, rising baseline scores limit causal inference. Replication with more children of different ages is necessary. Supplemental Materials https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.5596708

Using Randomized Variable Practice in the Treatment of Childhood Apraxia of Speech

2014 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 599-611 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven L. Skelton ◽  
Aubrie Lynn Hagopian
Keyword(s):  
Treatment Program ◽  
Effect Sizes ◽  
Central Component ◽  
Apraxia Of Speech ◽  
Childhood Apraxia Of Speech ◽  
Concurrent Treatment ◽  
Percent Correct ◽  
Standard Mean Difference ◽  
Articulation Disorders ◽  
Variable Practice

Purpose The purpose of this study was to determine if randomized variable practice, a central component of concurrent treatment, would be effective and efficient in treating childhood apraxia of speech (CAS). Concurrent treatment is a treatment program that takes the speech task hierarchy and randomizes it so that all tasks are worked on in one session. Previous studies have shown the treatment program to be effective and efficient in treating phonological and articulation disorders. The program was adapted to be used with children with CAS. Method A research design of multiple baselines across participants was used. Probes of generalization to untaught words were administered every fifth session. Three children, ranging in age from 4 to 6 years old, were the participants. Data were collected as percent correct productions during baseline, treatment, and probes of generalization of target sounds to untaught words and three-word phrases. Results All participants showed an increase in correct productions during treatment and during probes. Effect sizes (standard mean difference) for treatment were 3.61–5.00, and for generalization probes, they were 3.15–8.51. Conclusions The results obtained from this study suggest that randomized variable practice as used in concurrent treatment can be adapted for use in treating children with CAS. Replication of this study with other children presenting CAS will be needed to establish generality of the findings.

Treating Childhood Apraxia of Speech With the Kaufman Speech to Language Protocol: A Phase I Pilot Study

2018 ◽  
Vol 49 (3) ◽  
pp. 524-536 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maryane Gomez ◽  
Patricia McCabe ◽  
Kathy Jakielski ◽  
Alison Purcell
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Phase I ◽  
Single Case ◽  
Maintenance Phase ◽  
Preliminary Evidence ◽  
Multiple Baseline ◽  
Response To Treatment ◽  
Apraxia Of Speech ◽  
Childhood Apraxia Of Speech ◽  
Treatment Gains

Purpose A Phase I pilot study was designed to collect preliminary evidence on the use of the Kaufman Speech to Language Protocol (K-SLP; Kaufman, 2014) to treat children with childhood apraxia of speech. We hypothesized that the K-SLP approach would result in more accurate speech production in targeted words, whereas untrained (control) words and speech sounds would remain unchanged. Method A single-case multiple-baseline across behaviors experimental design was used to see if experimental feasibility could be demonstrated. Two children each received a total of 12 1-hr treatment sessions over 3 weeks. The children's response to treatment and experimental control was measured by administering baseline, treatment, and posttreatment probes. Results Both children showed some response to treatment, as measured by percent phonemes correct; however, the response to treatment varied. In general, for the treated words that improved with therapy, accuracy was maintained above baseline level during the maintenance phase. Minimal generalization was observed for this study, with only 1 participant generalizing treatment gains to 2 sets of untrained (similar) words. Conclusion This Phase I pilot study provides limited preliminary evidence for the effectiveness of the K-SLP approach in treating childhood apraxia of speech in some children under the conditions specified in this study. Replication of these results in well-controlled studies is needed before this structured and operationalized version of the K-SLP approach can be recommended for clinical use.

Effects of Blocked and Random Practice Schedule on Outcomes of Sound Production Treatment for Acquired Apraxia of Speech: Results of a Group Investigation

2017 ◽  
Vol 60 (6S) ◽  
pp. 1739-1751 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julie L. Wambaugh ◽  
Christina Nessler ◽  
Sandra Wright ◽  
Shannon C. Mauszycki ◽  
Catharine DeLong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Effect Size ◽  
Treatment Condition ◽  
Sound Production ◽  
Single Case ◽  
Experimental Designs ◽  
Effect Sizes ◽  
Apraxia Of Speech ◽  
Practice Schedule ◽  
Practice Schedules ◽  
Percent Change

Purpose The purpose of this investigation was to compare the effects of schedule of practice (i.e., blocked vs. random) on outcomes of Sound Production Treatment (SPT; Wambaugh, Kalinyak-Fliszar, West, & Doyle, 1998) for speakers with chronic acquired apraxia of speech and aphasia. Method A combination of group and single-case experimental designs was used. Twenty participants each received SPT administered with randomized stimuli presentation (SPT-R) and SPT applied with blocked stimuli presentation (SPT-B). Treatment effects were examined with respect to accuracy of articulation as measured in treated and untreated experimental words produced during probes. Results All participants demonstrated improved articulation of treated items with both practice schedules. Effect sizes were calculated to estimate magnitude of change for treated and untreated items by treatment condition. No significant differences were found for SPT-R and SPT-B relative to effect size. Percent change over the highest baseline performance was also calculated to provide a clinically relevant indication of improvement. Change scores associated with SPT-R were significantly higher than those for SPT-B for treated items but not untreated items. Conclusion SPT can result in improved articulation regardless of schedule of practice. However, SPT-R may result in greater gains for treated items. Supplemental Materials https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.5116831

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document