Unlocking Potential: Transforming Speech Therapy with Auditory-Motor Mapping Training
In the field of speech-language pathology, data-driven decisions and evidence-based practices are crucial for achieving the best outcomes for children. One such promising intervention is Auditory-Motor Mapping Training (AMMT), a novel, intonation-based treatment for spoken language. Initially developed for minimally verbal (MV) children with autism, recent research indicates that AMMT can also significantly benefit more-verbal children with autism. This blog will explore the findings from the study "Auditory-Motor Mapping Training in a More Verbal Child with Autism" and discuss how practitioners can implement these outcomes to enhance their therapeutic approaches.
The Power of Intonation
AMMT is a modification of Melodic Intonation Therapy (MIT), which has been successfully used to improve speech production in left-hemisphere stroke patients with severe nonfluent aphasia. AMMT involves the repetition of intoned (sung) words or phrases, coupled with tapping on electronic drums tuned to specific pitches. This multimodal approach engages auditory, motor, and visual neural representations, facilitating spoken language production.
Research Findings
The study compared the effects of AMMT and a non-intonation-based control treatment, Speech Repetition Therapy (SRT), on a more-verbal child with autism. The results were promising:
- AMMT led to greater improvements in the number of Syllables Correct, Consonants Correct, and Vowels Correct per stimulus compared to SRT.
- The more-verbal AMMT participant showed very large effect sizes (Cohen’s d > 1.3) in speech production measures.
- AMMT promoted greater skill generalization to unpracticed words and phrases than SRT.
These findings suggest that AMMT can be as effective for more-verbal children with autism as it is for their minimally verbal peers.
Implementing AMMT in Practice
Practitioners can incorporate AMMT into their therapy sessions by following these steps:
- Introduce the Target Phrase: Show a picture and use the phrase in a meaningful context.
- Unison Production: Produce the target phrase together with the child.
- Unison Fade: Start the phrase together, then let the child finish independently.
- Imitation: The therapist produces the target alone, then the child repeats it.
- Cloze Procedure: Provide a semantic context, and the child fills in the blank.
By integrating these steps into therapy, practitioners can leverage the multimodal nature of AMMT to enhance speech production in children with autism.
Encouraging Further Research
While the current study provides valuable insights, further research is needed to confirm these findings in larger groups of more-verbal children with autism. Pre- and post-treatment imaging studies could also help identify the neural substrates involved in AMMT's efficacy. Practitioners are encouraged to stay informed about ongoing research and consider participating in studies to contribute to the growing body of evidence supporting AMMT.
Conclusion
AMMT holds great promise for improving spoken language in children with autism, both minimally verbal and more-verbal. By implementing the techniques and findings from recent research, practitioners can make data-driven decisions that lead to better outcomes for their clients. As we continue to explore and validate these approaches, we move closer to unlocking the full potential of every child.
To read the original research paper, please follow this Auditory-Motor Mapping Training in a More Verbal Child with Autism.
