As speech-language pathologists, our commitment to evidence-based practice is crucial for creating optimal outcomes for the children we serve. The research article titled The Access to Grammatical Number in Spanish Children and Adults provides valuable insights that can enhance our understanding and implementation of morphological processing in online therapy settings.
The study investigates how Spanish primary school children and adults recognize singular and plural forms through a lexical decision task. The findings indicate that both children and adults access and store singulars and plurals differently, with plurals relying on their morphological relatives—singular forms. Understanding these mechanisms can significantly impact our therapeutic approaches.
Key Findings and Implications
- Both children and adults showed consistent patterns in morphological processing: dominant plural forms had decision times comparable to non-dominant singular forms, while singular-dominant forms were recognized more quickly than plural non-dominant forms.
- The research supports the classical Dual Route Model, suggesting two routes in processing singular and plural forms: a direct route for whole word access and a decomposition route for stem and affixes.
- Age and reading experience influence morphological processing, with younger children showing slower lexical decisions but similar patterns to adults.
Practical Applications in Online Therapy
Implementing these findings can refine our therapeutic strategies, particularly in online settings. Here are some actionable steps:
- Tailored Interventions: Recognize that younger children may need more time and practice with plural forms. Design activities that focus on repeated exposure to both singular and plural forms to strengthen their lexical memory.
- Use of Visual Cues: Incorporate visual aids that highlight the morphological structure of words, such as breaking down words into stems and suffixes, to aid in understanding and retention.
- Progress Monitoring: Regularly assess the child’s ability to recognize and process singular and plural forms, adjusting the complexity of tasks based on their progress.
Encouraging Further Research
While the study provides robust data, continued research is essential for refining our approaches. Practitioners are encouraged to engage in further research to explore:
- The impact of different morphological structures in other languages on lexical decision times.
- The effectiveness of various therapeutic interventions in improving morphological processing in children.
- The role of digital tools and resources in enhancing the learning and recognition of grammatical numbers.
To read the original research paper, please follow this link: The Access to Grammatical Number in Spanish Children and Adults.
