Childhood apraxia therapy ideas are the focus of 5 articles in my blog. In previous articles, I listed the components of a therapy program for speech sound disorders and childhood apraxia of speech (CAS). They included:
Keep sounds moving. Keep them slow with intonation and rhythmic flow.
Core words, cues to feel and see. Repetition, chains of three.
This article will describe the elements, Core Words, Cues to Feel and See.
Core words
When talking about childhood apraxia therapy ideas that work, thinking about core words is essential. If your child is able to say any sounds, begin to use those sounds to shape core words. For example, use the vowel, uh, for the word, “up.” Say the word “up” as you walk up each step. Even if your child cannot say “up” correctly, model the word correctly. When you are walking up the steps she could say “uh” for each step. Accept and welcome any word attempt your child says.
Think of all the activities that your child loves to do or what he does each day. Whether he or she likes eating, getting dressed, or playing with toys, target important words to learn in those situations. For example, while eating, a child may need to learn “eat,” “more,” “water,” or “banana.” A child who can say, “ee” can say that to ask for something to eat. “Muh” can be more, “wa” can be water, or “nana” can be banana.
Accuracy isn’t essential when children are first learning to communicate. Encourage word approximations so that your child’s core words are used functionally throughout his day. Think of core words you can encourage throughout your child’s day. Write a list of toys and activities your child loves. Write down his favorite foods, people in his life, favorite clothes or books, action words, and daily activities. These can all be core words, but they may need to be simplified to fit your child’s verbal abilities.
As you think about what core words are important in your child’s world, please look at the book, Talk With Me at https://www.talkitrockit.com/shop/tiri-611-talk/. This children’s book is also a parent training book to help children imitate noises, sounds, gestures, and words while looking at a book.
Cues to feel and see
Cueing systems are an important part of childhood apraxia therapy ideas.
Tactile cueing –
An incredible resource for childhood apraxia therapy is the Child Apraxia Treatment website where they discuss Dynamic Temporal and Tactile Cueing (DTTC). On that site, they describe this treatment approach and also provide free continuing education related to childhood apraxia of speech. Go here for information on seminars.
There are many techniques to use with children with apraxia. Training programs such as PROMPT Therapy are very helpful for sound sequencing. It is a cuing system that many speech-language pathologists use. PROMPT involves touch cues to a child’s face including his jaw, lips, and tongue. These cues help shape the muscles required to shape words.
Many speech language pathologists trained in PROMPT use Talk It Rock It songs as an extension to their therapy approach. The Blast Off Board Sound Sequencing Set is a helpful tool to use with tactile cueing during therapy and home practice. The Blast Off Board and our songs simply make the difficult job of speech practice more enjoyable and fun.
Signs and gestures –
In addition to tactile cues like Prompt, signing is another cueing system that can help children with apraxia. Signs as well as gestures can enhance verbal skills, not hold them back. Use signs and gestures in combination with verbalizations. Signing gives your child with CAS the ability to communicate with his hands even if he cannot say the words. Using signs and gestures requires motor planning skill just like speech does. Practicing movement of any kind is excellent for a child with apraxia. Most of all, though, using signs to communicate can decrease a child’s frustration. When you can keep a child calm and empowered, he will be less stressed to attempt verbalizing. Signs and gestures can facilitate that sense of calm. For a fun way to learn sign, go to Signing Time.
Using visuals –
We believe strongly in the use of visuals in combination with speech, tactile cues, and music. Our Blast Off Board Sound Sequencing Set Level 1 contains pictures with a hierarchy of speech sound sequences. The Blast Off Level 1 Set includes vowels and vowel combinations, consonant-vowels (CV), CVCV structures, VC, VCV, two-word phrases, and final consonants. In addition to the Blast Off Board visuals, Talk It Rock It songs come with illustrations. Print out the pictures of every song as you sing the sound sequences and words.
Whether you use our songs and the Blast Off Board or not, consider using cues throughout your day. Combine gestures whenever you can with sounds, words, and phrases. Tap out syllables of words on your child’s arm or leg to help him feel the syllables as well as hear them. Combine words with visuals or pictures so that your child can associate the sound combinations with the actual objects.
Augmentative Communication –
There may also be times where children may need an alternative way to communicate. Picture boards or electronic devices are helpful communication systems for your child. Giving your child a way to communicate is important. While working on his verbal skills, you may want to consider an alternative way of communicating.
These therapy ideas are only a tip of the iceberg when treating children with speech apraxia. I recommend seeking an evaluation by a speech language pathologist as soon as possible. That individual will be able to give you more specific ways to incorporate verbal practice at home.
