Introduction
As a speech-language pathologist, you're always on the lookout for effective interventions that can make a real difference in the lives of children with speech motor delays. A recent randomized control trial (RCT) study has shed light on the effectiveness of the PROMPT (Prompts for Restructuring Oral Muscular Phonetic Targets) intervention for children with severe speech motor delay (SMD). This blog will delve into the findings of this study and provide insights on how you can apply these outcomes in your practice to improve your skills and create better outcomes for children.
Understanding the Study
The study involved 49 children with SMD, divided into two groups: an intervention group that received 45 minutes of PROMPT therapy twice a week for 10 weeks, and a control group that was waitlisted and received home training. The results were promising, showing significant improvements in speech motor control, articulation, and word-level speech intelligibility for the intervention group compared to the control group.
Key Findings
- Speech Motor Control: The intervention group showed a 6% improvement in speech motor skills, which is significant for children with SMD.
- Articulation: There was a notable improvement in articulation, with a standard score increase of 5.15 in the intervention group.
- Speech Intelligibility: Word-level intelligibility improved by 8.59%, highlighting the effectiveness of PROMPT in enhancing speech clarity.
Applying PROMPT in Your Practice
Based on these findings, incorporating PROMPT into your therapy sessions can be a game-changer for children with SMD. Here are some practical steps to get started:
- Training: Ensure that you or your team are trained and certified in PROMPT to deliver the intervention effectively.
- Assessment: Use standardized assessments to identify children who would benefit most from PROMPT.
- Intervention Planning: Develop individualized therapy plans that incorporate the motor-speech hierarchy and sensory-motor pathways.
- Family Involvement: Educate families on the importance of their role in reinforcing therapy goals at home.
Encouraging Further Research
While this study provides strong evidence for the efficacy of PROMPT, it also highlights areas for further research. For instance, exploring the long-term effects of PROMPT and its impact on sentence-level intelligibility and functional communication could provide deeper insights. As practitioners, staying informed about ongoing research and contributing to it can enhance our understanding and application of effective interventions.
Conclusion
The PROMPT intervention is a clinically effective approach for children with severe SMD, offering significant improvements in speech motor control, articulation, and intelligibility. By incorporating these findings into your practice, you can help children achieve better communication outcomes and enhance their quality of life.
To read the original research paper, please follow this link: PROMPT intervention for children with severe speech motor delay: a randomized control trial.
