Motor speech treatment protocol for developmental motor speech disorders.

Area of Science:

• Speech-Language Pathology
• Pediatric Audiology
• Developmental Pediatrics

Background:

• Severe speech sound disorders (SSD) with motor speech difficulties present significant challenges in childhood communication.
• Effective treatment approaches are crucial for improving speech accuracy and intelligibility in affected children.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of the Motor Speech Treatment Protocol (MSTP), a multi-sensory hybrid approach.
• To assess the impact of MSTP on speech accuracy in children with severe to profound SSD and motor speech difficulties.

Main Methods:

• A multiple probe design was employed, replicated across five pediatric participants.
• Listener judgments (auditory and visual) of speech accuracy were used to evaluate treatment effects.

Main Results:

• Four out of five participants showed significant improvements in speech accuracy from baseline to maintenance.
• Generalization of treatment effects was observed, with positive changes noted in both trained and untrained words.
• One participant's limited progress may be linked to co-occurring psychosocial, regulation, or attention issues.

Conclusions:

• The Motor Speech Treatment Protocol (MSTP) provides preliminary evidence of positive effects on speech sound production.
• MSTP's integration of multi-sensory information and hierarchical goal selection may enhance speech motor control.
• This approach holds potential for improving communication outcomes in children with complex speech sound disorders.