EXAM 3: Speech Sound Treatment Approaches

Traditional Approach

A motor-based treatment approach that helps children learn to correctly produce individual speech sounds through structured steps like imitation, drills, and listening activities.

Components of traditional approach? (5)

Ear Training, Sound Establishment, Stabilization, Transfer/Carryover, Maintenance

Ear Training

Teach the child to hear the difference between correct and incorrect sounds.

Sound Establishment

Help the child produce the correct sound (using imitation, phonetic placement, etc.).

Stabilization

Practice in steps: syllables → words → phrases → sentences → conversation.

Transfer/Carryover

Practice in different settings and with different people.

Maintenance

Keep practicing over time to make sure the skill sticks.

Traditional Approach Example

👉 Moves step-by-step: isolation → syllables → words → sentences → conversation

Teaching /s/:

Say /s/ by itself

Then say it in sa, see, so

Then in words like sun, sock

Then in sentences like The sun is hot.

Traditional Approach Usage

For children with articulatory SSDs, relies on auditory perception of speech sounds, clients need attention and focus.

Traditional Approach for Residual Errors

Focuses on teaching correct placement and movement of the articulators (like tongue position for /r/).

Features of Traditional Approach

Structured, step-by-step practice from simple to complex; uses behavioral techniques like modeling, feedback, reinforcement.

2 modification of Traditional Approach

1 add on to Traditional

Modification: Multiple Phonemic Approach & Concurrent Treatment Approach

Add-on: Speech Motor Chaining

Multiple Phonemic Approach

Focuses on teaching several sounds at once, not one by one.. Often used when a child is missing many sounds.

Example: Working on /s/, /k/, and /f/ in the same session.

Concurrent Treatment Approach

Teaches sounds using multiple task types at the same time, instead of in a strict order. not waiting to master one level before moving on — you're doing them all together.

Speech Motor Chaining

Uses hierarchical steps: isolation → syllables → words → phrases → conversation.

Speech Motor Chaining Focus

Helps the child build complex speech by chaining smaller parts together.

Contrast Approach

A phonological intervention that teaches children to use phonemic contrasts by comparing words that differ by just one sound.

Types of Contrast

Minimal Opposition, Maximal Opposition, Multiple Opposition

Minimal Opposition

"tea" vs "key"

/t/ and /k/ differ by one feature (place).

Maximal Opposition

"me" vs "she"

/m/ and /ʃ/ differ by place, manner, and voicing.

Multiple Opposition

"door" vs "store", "score", "shore"

Used when a child replaces many sounds with one (e.g., /d/ for /s, k, ʃ/).

Cycles Approach

A phonological intervention designed for children with severe speech unintelligibility, targeting phonological patterns (not individual sounds) in repeating cycles.

Cycles Approach Components

Each cycle includes multiple phonological patterns, auditory bombardment at the beginning and end of sessions, production practice using 3-5 target words.

Cycles Approach Focus

Focuses on patterns with over 40% occurrence, primary error patterns (e.g., FCD, ICD, fronting, gliding).

Modified Cycles Approach

Shorter cycle (3 weeks), more focused targets.

Cycles Approach Usage

Targets patterns, not individual sounds; designed specifically for highly unintelligible speech.