An Evidence Based Speech and Language Treatment Approach

Read more for a great therapy outline that has been researched and proven effective for children who present with both articulation and language disorders.


As a graduate clinician I was able to particpate in a research study that evaluated the effectiveness of a specific format of speech and language therapy. This particular approach was used to treat kids who presented with both articulation and language disorders. I saw amazing improvement with my client. Of course I saw this client 3 times each week for hour long sessions and that is not feesible in the real world but I still think it's a good format to follow for speech and language intervention. I particularly like the cycles approach in which the client does not have to reach a certain criteria before advancing to a different goal. I feel like sometimes our kiddos need time to process their goals before we can expect perfection. Here is a very basic break down of the therapy lay out. It is perfect for hour long sessions but I've actually been able to widdle it down to 40 minute sessions for my school groups. I will try to link the article in the Journal of Speech and Hearing Science.

An Evidence Based Speech and Language Treatment Approach
• A cyclical goal attack strategy
• Alternating between language and speech goals
• Achievement of a certain criteria not required before advancing to the next goal
• 6 short term goals targeted twice during 12 weeks of intervention (will vary with each child)

Speech Goals Format
• 1. Auditory Awareness activity:
o explanation of the target sound
o show placement of the articulators
o auditory bombardment of the sound in a story
o identification of sound during story
• 2. Conceptual activity
o increase the awareness of the sound
o describe the characteristics of the sounds
o practice discrimination of sound characteristics
• 3. Drill-Play activity
o practice placement of articulators
o drill with pictures or objects
o at least 20-25 productions of target phoneme (preferably more than 30)
o provide specific feedback to the child
• 4. Naturalistic activity
o Load environment with opportunities to use the target phoneme
o Provide visual and verbal cues during naturalistic play
o Provide reinforcement for correct production during natural play
• 5. Phonological Awareness Activity
o To encourage and assist early literacy development and awareness of sound associations
o Does not necessarily have to be associated with targeted phoneme

Language Goals Format
• 1. Auditory Awareness activity
o Begin with a brief explanation of the targeted goal
o Listen to a story loaded with examples of targeted goal
o Identification of targeted goal within the story
• 2. Elicitation activity
o Child asked to retell the story
o At least 25-30 productions of the targeted goal
o Hierarchy of prompts: forced choice, cloze task, & preparatory set
• 3. Focused Stimulation activity
o Elicit 25-30 productions of targeted goal in naturalistic play
o Focused stimulation techniques (recasts, extensions, expansions, build-ups & break-downs