Modeling versus modeling plus evoked production training: a comparison of two language intervention methods

Area of Science:

• Speech and Language Pathology
• Child Language Acquisition
• Clinical Linguistics

Background:

• Language disorders significantly impact children's communication and academic success.
• Effective language intervention strategies are crucial for addressing these challenges.
• Comparing different intervention approaches helps refine clinical practices.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the effectiveness of two language intervention procedures: modeling versus modeling plus evoked production.
• To assess the impact of these interventions on generalization probes in language-disordered children.

Main Methods:

• A single-subject alternating treatments design was employed.
• Four children with language disorders (ages 5:5-6:11) participated.
• The study included baseline sessions and 10-14 training sessions for each procedure.

Main Results:

• No significant difference in effectiveness was observed between the modeling and modeling plus evoked production procedures.
• Accuracy levels on generalization probes were comparable for both intervention methods.
• A trend suggested slightly more stable acquisition patterns with modeling plus evoked production for three participants.

Conclusions:

• Both language intervention procedures demonstrated comparable effectiveness in this study.
• While subtle differences in acquisition stability were noted, overall effectiveness was similar.
• Further research is needed to confirm findings and address potential treatment interference.