Understanding the Study
The study conducted by Campbell, Manning, Robertson, and Disalvo aimed to estimate the readiness for dismissal from therapy of 76 elementary school children with /r/ or /s/ misarticulations. The researchers administered the Deep Test of Articulation under three conditions:
- Condition I: Without auditory masking
- Condition II: With auditory masking (competing speech presented binaurally at 65 or 85 dB SPL)
- Condition III: Without auditory masking three months after Condition II testing
The results indicated that significantly more children would have been accurately dismissed from therapy using performance on the Deep Test with masking as a criterion than by using performance without masking.
Key Findings
The study's findings suggest that auditory masking can be a valuable tool in determining whether a child's correct articulation has become automatized. Specifically, the study found:
- Using auditory masking as a criterion for dismissal resulted in 96% of children being correctly dismissed from therapy, compared to 72% without masking.
- The sound pressure level of the masking and phoneme type did not significantly affect the accuracy of dismissal decisions.
- Auditory masking tends to disrupt the articulatory production of children who have recently acquired the production of a phoneme, providing a more accurate estimation of future performance.
Practical Applications for Practitioners
Based on these findings, practitioners can enhance their articulation therapy sessions by incorporating competing speech techniques. Here are some practical steps to implement these outcomes:
- Incorporate Auditory Masking: Use competing speech tapes during the Deep Test of Articulation to assess whether a child's correct production of a phoneme is automatized.
- Adjust Therapy Plans: Retain children in therapy if their correct production is disrupted by auditory masking, as this indicates that automatization has not yet been achieved.
- Monitor Progress: Reassess children periodically using the Deep Test with auditory masking to ensure accurate dismissal decisions.
Encouraging Further Research
While this study provides valuable insights, further research is needed to explore the effects of different variables such as sound pressure level and phoneme type. Practitioners are encouraged to conduct their own research and share their findings with the broader community to continue improving articulation therapy outcomes.
To read the original research paper, please follow this link: The Use of Competing Speech for Making Dismissal Decisions in Articulation Therapy.
