Structural generalization by children with speech-sound disorders under different therapeutic approaches

PURPOSE:

to verify which group (with or without stimulation of orofacial praxis skills) presented better structural generalizations by considering the following types: generalization to items not used in the treatment, to another position in the word, within a class of sounds, and to another class of sounds.

METHODS:

the sample consisted of six subjects (three girls and three boys), whose ages ranged between 5:4 and 7:0 at the beginning of therapy. The subjects were divided into three groups, and they all received phonological therapy through the model of Minimal Pairs-Maximum Oppositions/Empty Set. They were organized as follows: study group, treated with stimulation of facial and tongue praxis skills (GFoLFa), and with exercises of tongue praxis skills (GFoL), and control group, treated with phonological therapy (GFo) only. They were all assessed before and after therapy as to the phonological system (Yavas,Hernandorena and Lamprecht, 1991); also with the Orofacial Praxis Test (Berzoatti, Tavano and Fabbro, 2007), and the Bucofacial Articulatory Praxis test (Hage, 2000).

RESULT:

the GFoLFa group achieved greater progress as regards generalizations to the four types analyzed (within a class of sounds, to other positions in the word, to another class of sounds and to items not used in the treatment). The GFoL group presented a substantial number of generalizations within a class of sounds; and GFO showed generalization to another class of sounds.

CONCLUSION:

the groups that received praxis treatment produced greater generalizations; however, we suggest new studies applying this model, so that these results can be confirmed with other samples.

Speech; Child; Speech Disorders; Speech Therapy; Generalization; Response