Children with hearing loss often face challenges in learning certain speech sounds, particularly the North American English /r/. Recent research titled "Attaining the lingual components of /r/ with ultrasound for three adolescents with cochlear implants" has demonstrated promising outcomes in addressing these challenges using ultrasound technology as an adjunct to traditional speech therapy. This blog aims to help practitioners implement these findings to improve their clinical practices and outcomes for children with cochlear implants (CIs).
Introduction
Cochlear implants have significantly enhanced auditory perception for individuals with severe-to-profound hearing loss. However, many CI recipients continue to struggle with speech production, particularly with complex sounds like /r/. This research study focused on using ultrasound to visualize and teach the lingual components necessary for accurate /r/ production in three adolescents with recent CIs.
Research Findings
The study utilized a single-subject design to assess the effectiveness of ultrasound in teaching the lingual gestures required for /r/ production. The three participants, all diagnosed with severe-to-profound bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, had recently received unilateral CIs and wore hearing aids in their other ears. The ultrasound provided visual feedback to help establish three critical tongue movements:
- Tongue root retraction
- Retroflexion or bunching
- Midline grooving
All participants successfully learned these gestures, and one participant achieved accurate /r/ production in isolation and at the word level.
Implementing Ultrasound in Speech Therapy
To integrate ultrasound technology into your speech therapy practice, consider the following steps:
1. Equipment and Setup
Invest in a high-quality ultrasound machine with a suitable transducer. Position the probe under the patient's chin to capture clear images of tongue movements.
2. Initial Assessment
Conduct a baseline assessment of the patient's current /r/ production. Use the ultrasound to visualize and document any existing lingual gestures.
3. Teaching Lingual Components
Begin with the easiest gesture, tongue root retraction, and use the ultrasound to provide real-time visual feedback. Once the patient can consistently produce this gesture, move on to retroflexion or bunching, followed by midline grooving.
4. Practice and Reinforcement
Encourage regular practice both in and out of therapy sessions. Use a variety of words and sentences to help generalize the new skills.
5. Monitoring Progress
Continuously monitor and document the patient's progress. Use the ultrasound to provide ongoing feedback and make adjustments as needed.
Encouraging Further Research
While this study showed promising results, further research with larger participant groups and longer follow-up periods is necessary to fully understand the potential of ultrasound in speech therapy. Practitioners are encouraged to explore and contribute to this growing field.
Conclusion
Ultrasound technology offers a valuable tool for speech therapists working with children with cochlear implants. By providing visual feedback, it can help establish the complex lingual gestures required for accurate /r/ production, leading to improved speech outcomes. For more detailed information and to read the original research paper, please follow this link:
Attaining the lingual components of /r/ with ultrasound for three adolescents with cochlear implants.
