As a special education director, one of my primary responsibilities is ensuring that our students receive the best possible support for their unique needs. A critical aspect of this is staying informed about the latest research in the field of speech therapy and articulation training. One particularly insightful study that has recently caught my attention is titled "Transfer of Articulation Training Across Morphological Contexts: A Brief Report" by Holdgrafer, Kohn, and Williams. This research explores how training in articulation can transfer across different morphological contexts, and its findings have significant implications for improving therapy practices.
The study involved three children who had difficulties with the /s/ and /z/ phonemes. They were trained to produce these sounds correctly in the final position of a sequence of nonsense word nouns. The researchers then assessed whether this training transferred to English nouns and other contexts such as plural, possessive, and third person singular verb tense forms. The results were mixed but insightful:
- One child showed transfer across phonemes and all contexts.
- Another child showed transfer across all contexts for the trained phoneme but had limited transfer across phonemes.
- The third child showed no transfer.
These findings highlight several important considerations for practitioners:
1. Emphasize Contextual Training
The study suggests that training phonemes in the final position of words may be more efficient. For instance, training /s/ and /z/ in final positions can lead to better transfer to other contexts. This approach can potentially save time and resources while achieving significant articulation improvements.
2. Assess Individual Differences
The varied results among the subjects underscore the importance of tailoring therapy to individual needs. Practitioners should be prepared to adjust their strategies based on how well a child responds to initial training.
3. Incorporate Morphological Contexts
Using morphological contexts such as plurals, possessives, and verb tenses in training can enhance the generalization of articulation skills. This approach can help children apply their articulation skills more broadly, facilitating better communication in everyday situations.
4. Consider Co-Articulation Effects
The study also points to the role of co-articulation effects. Practitioners should be aware of how different phonetic contexts might influence a child's ability to transfer articulation skills. Adjusting training materials to account for these effects can lead to more effective therapy outcomes.
In conclusion, the research by Holdgrafer, Kohn, and Williams provides valuable insights into the transfer of articulation training across morphological contexts. By implementing these findings, practitioners can enhance their therapy strategies, leading to more efficient and effective outcomes for their students. For those interested in delving deeper into this study, I highly encourage you to read the original research paper: Transfer of Articulation Training Across Morphological Contexts: A Brief Report.
