The “Proverbial Grey Area:” Generalization and Discharge Criteria
Presentation Type
Poster
Faculty Advisor
Elaine Hitchcock
Access Type
Event
Start Date
26-4-2024 9:45 AM
End Date
26-4-2024 10:44 AM
Description
It is commonly known that generalization of newly acquired speech sounds is a challenging task in speech intervention, particularly for school-aged children with residual speech sound disorder (RSSD). Children with RSSD are also known to exhibit social-emotional, academic, and vocational challenges across the lifespan (e.g., Hitchcock et al., 2015). Discharge criteria for speech sound treatment has remained an ongoing topic of discussion for more than 25 years (Hodson & Paden, 1991; Stoel Gammon & Dunn, 1985; Olswang & Bain, 1985; Diedrich & Bangert, 1980) with discharge criteria of >90% accuracy. Yet, there remains “the proverbial grey area” whereby alterations of target selection (trained vs. untrained), gain trajectory, and intervention style require further inspection. The purpose of the current study expanded on previous investigations of discharge criteria for the expressed reason of enhancing long-term outcomes for hard-to-treat sounds. This retrospective analysis reviews outcome data from 14 children diagnosed with rhotic speech errors. Treatment consisted of Block 1 (B1): 20 sessions, 200-250 trials per session, followed by a 45-token stimulability probe and 50-word probe followed by an 8-12 week no-treatment period. Block 2 (B2) consisted of one session per week for 12 weeks. Prior to the onset of B2, another 45-word stimulability probe and 50-word probe data were collected. Probe data from B1 and B2 were compared to investigate stability of treatment gains. Preliminary findings suggest generalization of an individualized precision–type approach may lead to optimal outcomes.
The “Proverbial Grey Area:” Generalization and Discharge Criteria
It is commonly known that generalization of newly acquired speech sounds is a challenging task in speech intervention, particularly for school-aged children with residual speech sound disorder (RSSD). Children with RSSD are also known to exhibit social-emotional, academic, and vocational challenges across the lifespan (e.g., Hitchcock et al., 2015). Discharge criteria for speech sound treatment has remained an ongoing topic of discussion for more than 25 years (Hodson & Paden, 1991; Stoel Gammon & Dunn, 1985; Olswang & Bain, 1985; Diedrich & Bangert, 1980) with discharge criteria of >90% accuracy. Yet, there remains “the proverbial grey area” whereby alterations of target selection (trained vs. untrained), gain trajectory, and intervention style require further inspection. The purpose of the current study expanded on previous investigations of discharge criteria for the expressed reason of enhancing long-term outcomes for hard-to-treat sounds. This retrospective analysis reviews outcome data from 14 children diagnosed with rhotic speech errors. Treatment consisted of Block 1 (B1): 20 sessions, 200-250 trials per session, followed by a 45-token stimulability probe and 50-word probe followed by an 8-12 week no-treatment period. Block 2 (B2) consisted of one session per week for 12 weeks. Prior to the onset of B2, another 45-word stimulability probe and 50-word probe data were collected. Probe data from B1 and B2 were compared to investigate stability of treatment gains. Preliminary findings suggest generalization of an individualized precision–type approach may lead to optimal outcomes.